Land Use

Minnesota Town Halts All Multi-Family Construction for One Year
Anoka, Minnesota decided it has enough rental housing.

Sidewalk Labs, Waterfront Toronto Partnership Shoots the Smart Cities Moon
The most ambitious example of the almost-mythological "smart city" will be tested in the Quayside district in Toronto as result of a partnership between Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto.
Atlanta Beltline Acquires Major Piece of the Future Eastside Trail
The Atlanta Beltline will be realized one step at a time, and this was a big one.

Integrating Environmental Justice Into Planning Processes
National City, California pioneered a model for implementing environmental justice considerations into planning processes—state law compels states to follow National City's leadership.

Friday Eye Candy: Mapping a World of Water Words
Cultures and geography have created a dictionary's worth of words for water. A new video from Vox maps (most of) them out.

Wildfire Destroys Santa Rosa Neighborhood Outside of Fire Hazard Zone
The Wine Country wildfires destroyed Coffey Park, a subdivision within the urban boundaries of the Bay Area's fifth largest city, and outside of the state's severe fire hazard zones. But the cause wasn't a mystery to wildland fire scientists.

Yards Slim Down as House Size Grows
As the footprints of the average suburban home grows and lot sizes shrink, the traditional sprawling yard is getting squeezed out.

A Playbook for Achieving Meaningful Development Regulation Reform
Most cities know they need new development regulations, but it's much, much easier said than done.

Ross May Be Immune from the Amazon Effect
Ross Stores continues its expansion in the face of a much-foretold retail apocalypse. The shopping experience it provides may be one reason it can stand up to Amazon.

Autonomous Vehicles and Urban Contexts: It's Time to Engage All Stakeholders
At the 2017 Autonomous Vehicle Symposium, a group of experts were asked to predict the effects of autonomous vehicles in two case study communities, and to generate a list of proposed policy actions to prepare for a future of autonomous vehicles.

Density Debate Boils Over in Southern California's Third Largest City
The city of Long Beach's draft Land Use Element has provoked political forces that would like to cap the growth of the city.

A Playbook for Supply-Side Housing Affordability Solutions
The word YIMBY isn't used in the McKinsey Global Institute's new supply-side toolkit for housing affordability, but YIMBYs will like this it anyway.

'Housing Insights' Mapping Tool Designed to Preserve Subsidized Housing in D.C.
The Housing Insights team of volunteer civic hackers hopes you'll use their software in other cities, too.

Can Urbanist Islands Make a Difference Where Sprawl Reigns?
The product of a single developer, San Jose's Santana Row is a pocket of urbanism in a sea of sprawl. But can it influence development patterns beyond its bounds, and should it?
Former Planning Director, Landscape Architect Among MacArthur Genius Grants Winners
Professionals and academics of the built environment were recognized for their genius this week by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Wine Country Wildfires Put Focus on Wildland-Urban Interface
The fires in Northern California have caused at least 21 deaths, with over 500 people missing in Sonoma County. Wired science editor, Adam Rogers, looks at the problems posed when urban development encroaches wildlands.

Communities Debate Potential Mine Near Mt. St. Helens
Fishermen, former loggers, and conservationists are just some of the groups with a stake in whether a mining operation takes root in Washington state.

San Francisco Planning to Remove the Great Highway as Coastal Erosion Takes its Toll
In the 1920s, the city of San Francisco extended the shoreline of south Ocean Beach by some 200 feet. Now the coast there is eroding as a result of that action, and the Great Highway is on shaky ground.

Portland to Consider New Residential Infill Regulations
The city of Portland's new residential infill ordinance would reduce the number of 1:1 demolitions—which often convert older, affordable homes into expensive McMansions.
ADUs Are Having a Moment
Granny flats, mother-in-law units, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or secondary units—whatever you call them, more and more cities, regions, and states are making it easier to deliver subtle density in the backyard.
Pagination
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Fort Worth
planning NEXT
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie