Land Use

Chester County, Pennsylvania

Huge Swath of Land Preserved in Pennsylvania's Fastest Growing County

Preservationists have bought one reprieve from the ongoing expansion of developed land in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

June 12, 2017 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge

Des Moines Has a Plan to 'Connect Downtown'

Des Moines is considering an ambitious complete streets makeover of its downtown streets.

June 12, 2017 - The Des Moines Register

Washington

Seattle Releases Draft Rezonings for its 'Urban Villages'

Seattle is planning to add height and density in "urban villages" around the city—part of the growth and affordability goals targeted by previous planning efforts by the city.

June 11, 2017 - The Urbanist

71 Street South Side Chicago

Downzoning in the Hopes of Attracting Prestige Businesses

South Side Chicago Alderman Leslie Hairston says downzoning 71st will help 'take control of our corridor,' but some worry the move is a power grab that will ultimately stifle prospects for the neighborhood.

June 11, 2017 - WBEZ

Austin

Defining Key Zoning Code Terms for the Masses

What it means when planners use their words.

June 9, 2017 - The Austin Chronicle

Orchard Station RTD Light Rail

Denver Suburb Rejects TOD at Light Rail Station in Special Election

Tuesday's mail-in vote by residents of Greenwood Village to overwhelmingly reject a city-council approved plan to allow mixed-use development at a light rail station is a major setback for smart growth proponents.

June 9, 2017 - The Denver Post

New York City

What's the Matter With the Upper East Side?

In a free market, the richest neighborhoods would ordinarily be the most popular. But some well-off urban neighborhoods are actually losing population. Why?

June 9, 2017 - Michael Lewyn

United Nations

Urban Planning Agencies and the UN's Sustainable Development Guidelines

A new report from France shows how to deploy urban planning agencies in the pursuit of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by 193 countries in 193 nations in 2015.

June 8, 2017 - Citiscope

New Jersey History

New Jersey Mosque Beats 'Discriminatory' Zoning

A proposed mosque in Bernards Township will move forward, after the DOJ sued the town for using zoning ordinances to undermine Muslims' religious freedom.

June 7, 2017 - The Atlantic

Houston Traffic

Post-Recession, 'Super Commuters' Increasing in Number

The number of "super commuters"—people who commute for over 90 minutes—is still a relatively small percentage of the country, but it's a number that's growing quickly. What does that mean about the economy?

June 7, 2017 - Governing

City Dogs

How Planning Can Help Dogs and Humans Co-Exist

Not everyone is sold on the idea of dogs as "man's best friend," and not everyone is comfortable navigating a public realm where dogs are crowdsourcing their marks. What are planners to do?

June 6, 2017 - Planning Exchange

Species Protection

Concern Grows Over the Fate of the Country's 'Largest Land Conservation Feat'

Western governors are concerned with signals from the Trump Administration about its intentions to kill a compromise deal to protect 165 million acres of habitat for the sage grouse.

June 6, 2017 - The Denver Post

PCH Santa Monica

Op-Ed: Slow Growth Fails the Paris Accords Too

Many local leaders spoke strongly against President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accords, but local land use and transportation policies still sorely lack any consideration of climate impact.

June 5, 2017 - Santa Monica Next

Parking Meter

Residence in Chicago's TODs Come With a Major Caveat: No Parking Permits

One big idea behind transit oriented residential developments is that residents will be liberated from their cars. New developments in Chicago are making sure residents won't be parking on streets to get the best of both worlds.

June 4, 2017 - DNAinfo Chicago

Rural Schoolhouse

Explained: The Many Definitions of Rural

Wisconsin provides a case study in the varied methods for defining rural, and why that matters. "Rural is not simple to define, perhaps because the real question is rural for what purpose?"

June 3, 2017 - WisContext

Washington D.C.

RFK Memorial and Redevelopment Plan Proposed for Old Stadium Site

RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. lost its last tenant in late 2015, and now D.C. leaders have a new plan for the site.

June 3, 2017 - The Washington Post

End of the Mall

Credit Suisse Says One in Every Four U.S. Malls Will be Gone by 2022

More apparel sales will move online, and department stores will continue to struggle in 2017.

June 2, 2017 - Business Insider

Ontario

New Report Plans Toronto at Kid Scale

Toronto has released draft urban design guidelines that put families with children at the center of the city.

June 2, 2017 - Next City

Nigeria

Land Grabs and Inequity in the New African Mega Cities

Callus city builders in Africa must account for the poor as well as the rich argues Mathias Agbo Jr. in a piece for Common Edge.

June 2, 2017 - Common Edge

Infill Comes to Atlanta's Single-Family Neighborhoods

The Atlanta metropolitan area is facing an estimated 2.5 million new residents by 2040. Some current residents are surprised at some of the neighborhoods accommodating that growth.

June 2, 2017 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.