Land Use
Get Ready for a Wave of Federal Land Transfers in Western States
It's the antithesis of what former President Obama and his predecessors did when they gave federal lands and waters more protection. But don't blame Trump's executive actions for this one (not yet, anyway), as it's being proposed by Congress.
Duany on the Imperatives of Urban Design Codes
Andres Duany takes to the CNU's Public Square to argue for the critical need for codes in a built environment awash in mediocrity.
Mega Project in Suburban Atlanta Gets Final Public Financing Piece: Value Capture
School advocates don't like the idea of a tax allocation district for the redevelopment of the former GM plant in Doraville.
Council President Clarke Op-Ed: A Call to Action for the Philadelphia Land Bank
Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke has called for more institutional support for the goals of the Philadelphia Land Bank.
Detroit Completes Citywide Property Tax Reappraisal
It's counterintuitive, but in Detroit, the hope is that by lowering property taxes, the city might actually collect more in property taxes.
Study: Density Better Than Retrofits for Emissions
Just because a study says density is more effective than energy system retrofits in reducing emissions, doesn't mean that we have to settle for just one.
New Neighborhood Plan in San Francisco Pitches the Public Benefits of Density
Central SoMa ("South of Market") in San Francisco will soon have a new neighborhood plan. Planners hope zoning changes will reap rewards in property values and public benefits.
The Most Ambitious Land-Use Planning Effort in the U.S.—Not Where You Might Think
A 20-year, voluntary, bottom-up, large-scale, long-term planning effort in Utah has managed to bridge the divide between Mormons and non-Mormons, environmentalists and mining interests, farmers and city-dwellers.
Preservationists Organize to Protect 3,000 Acres of Forest Near Seattle
A timber company is nearing the end of its deal to log the Port Gamble Forest, so local preservationists are raising money to protect the forest from development.
Where Land Is More Valuable than Homes
It's surprisingly common to find cities where land is worth more than buildings. Start with California, for instance.
A New Community Plan for a Neighborhood on the Border
The city of San Diego recently approved a 30-year community plan for the San Ysidro neighborhood.
Friday Funny: A Survey to Rate the Greatness of Driveways
Yeah, this is a weird one.
Downtown Adjacent Neighborhoods Columbus in Line for New Parking Requirements
Parking lots and one-story buildings are being rapidly redeveloped in the Short North, located just north of Downtown Columbus. New parking requirements are aimed at streamlining the development process and ensuring adequate parking.
The Best Examples of Underpass Parks
Cities around the continent are reclaiming the previously unwelcoming confines of underpasses for active, healthy, and aesthetically pleasing uses.
For Once, Cars, Not Pedestrians, Make Room for Construction
In a welcome turnabout of the usual state of affairs, a Philadelphia construction site gives a lane of traffic to pedestrians to make up for the three blocks of sidewalk it's taking.
Third Space First
The quickly growing number of third spaces is good news for both the social and the urban fabrics.
Islamophobia Taking Over Planning Processes
A columnist attributes the success of President-elect Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric with a rise in potentially illegal land use decisions around the state of Virginia.
New Zoning Code for South Boston Increases Parking Requirements
Recently approved changes to the zoning code in South Boston are designed to reduce the number variances granted by the Boston Zoning Board of Appeals. They also increase the number of parking sports required for new developments.
Shining a Light on Smarter Development Policies in India
A new study uses night sky satellite images to measure urban development patterns in India. The results can help guide smarter growth.
Charlotte's LYNX Light Rail: Ten Years Later
How has Charlotte evolved ten years since opening the LYNX Blue Line light rail system?
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
