Land Use

Regional Planning for Growth on Display in the Pacific Northwest
The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) released a new "Regional Centers Framework."

Growth and Change Take Hold in Boise
Rapid growth is now the trend in a region that faced some of the worst effects of the Great Recession.

Revisiting the 'Edge City'
Lessons from Edge City, after the world changed again.

How Much Parking Near Transit Is Too Much Parking Near Transit?
Faced with the expensive costs of adding park and ride facilities along its expanding transit system, transportation planners in the Seattle region wonder if it's money well spent.
Legislation Would Ensure California Housing Construction Keeps Pace with Population Growth
A companion bill to the controversial SB 827, also introduced Sen. Scott Wiener (D-S.F)., could have a similar impact on housing production but hasn't gathered nearly as much attention. SB 828 makes critical changes to the state's housing supply law.

New Evidence of Coal's Evolving Place in the Economy
Contura Energy paid Blackjewel Inc. $21 million to take ownership of the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr coal mines in Wyoming.

How Surveillance in Cities is Evolving
Across the globe, smart cities are increasingly procuring and implementing information technology in order to improve the efficiency and sustainability of urban spaces. The former CTO of L.A. and the mayor of Beverly Hills weigh in on the subject.

Squaring Urbanism, Equity, and Density in the SB 827 Debate
As Sen. Wiener has announced new amendments to the controversial land use, transit-oriented development, and real estate bill, The Planning Report turns to three experts to unpack the legislation's consequences.

Cities Turn to Highway Cap Parks for Economic Development
Some worry that, of the many reasons cities pursue cap parks, creating quality green space is low on the list.

Trump Administration Would Slash 22 Percent of Farm Bill's Conservation Funding
The Farm Bill is one of the federal government's biggest, most controversial (yet still intractable) bills. The Trump Administration has plans for change.

Reviving the 'Miracle Mile' May Be Tucson's Next Big Thing
After tremendous success with a streetcar line, the desert city is considering strategies for investing in its historic automobile corridor.

Why Would Arizona Deregulate Groundwater Now?
For decades the arid state has required most new construction projects to demonstrate adequate water supply, but at the edge of the next dry spell, two lawmakers are trying to get rid of the rules.

Houston Seriously Tightens Rules on Floodplain Construction
It was the city's "first major regulatory response" to Hurricane Harvey.

Eyes from the Street: The Neighbourhood Fabric that Matters
The mantra “eyes on the street" focuses on the physical and functional traits of urban fabric but fails to explain the high crime rate of my Jacobsian neighbourhood. Time to reconsider, look for explanations, and exchange mantras for research.

Maybe National Park Entrance Fees Won't Triple After All
After public outcry, Department of the Interior officials seem to have changed their mind about raising the price of entrance fees into National Parks.

S.F.'s Central SoMa Plan Would Add 40,000 Jobs, 7,000 Housing Units
YIMBYs are describing the jobs-housing imbalance represented in the Central SoMa Plan as reminiscent of the housing policies of cities farther down the Peninsula.

When Coastal States Kill Building Codes, FEMA Pays
Despite the increasing number and intensity of natural disasters, some vulnerable states are relaxing building regulations and leaving the federal government to pick up the tab when tragedy strikes again.

Massachusetts Considering a Hotel Tax on Short-Term Rentals
Legislation moving through the Massachusetts Legislature would implement the same tax on short-term rentals that already applies to hotels. Local jurisdictions would also be free to implement their own taxes on short-term rentals under the law.

The Planned Community of the Future Is Also a 'Smart City'
Planned community developer LStar Ventures is building a smart city experiment near Boston.

Mayor de Blasio Wants a Vacancy Tax to Combat Empty Storefronts
The hottest trend in commercial real estate, letting storefronts in Manhattan sit empty while waiting for top dollar, is robbing the city's streets of the benefits of a bustling economy.
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