Land Use

Wildfire

Building Houses in Wildfire Country

Developments boom in high risk fire areas, even as fires continue to increase in duration, severity and damage.

September 28, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Melbourne

Jan Gehl on the Politics of Transforming Cities

Advancing the politics of public transportation and public spaces is not easy. Danish architect Jan Gehl and his firm Gehl Architects, however, have a track record of success with cities around the world.

September 28, 2016 - Lily Song

Cleveland

Cleveland–East Cleveland Merger Plan Overlooks Main Issue

East Cleveland, a struggling suburb of Cleveland, has ended up in so much fiscal distress that it is considering allowing Cleveland to annex it as a desperation move. We may need to rethink our decades of assumptions about home rule in the Northeast.

September 27, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Car Production Line

In Brooklyn's Navy Yard, a New Manufacturing Incubator

New Lab repurposes a gritty shipbuilding warehouse, giving manufacturing startups the support that software firms get from your typical incubator.

September 27, 2016 - Curbed

Charlottesville, Virginia

Form Based Codes: Nashville Provides a Model for Charlottesville's Process

As Charlottesville, Virginia considers a new form-based code, the city of Nashville offers explanations and examples of the concept in action.

September 26, 2016 - Charlottesville Tomorrow

President Obama

The Obama Administration Releases a Pro-Development Playbook

A new paper released by the White House offers a toolkit of economic evidence and policy recommendations designed to help cities overcome local opposition to development.

September 26, 2016 - Politico

The Battle Against McMansions Continues in Burbank

With a two-year Interim Development Control Ordinance set to expire in March 2017, Burbank, California is working on new design guidelines for single-family homes.

September 26, 2016 - The Burbank Leader

Golden Gate

Everything You Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask About Prop. 13

A new report from the California Legislative Analyst's Office demystifies the highly consequential and controversial property tax limit enacted by Proposition 13.

September 25, 2016 - California Legislative Analyst's Office

Aerial views during an Army search and rescue mission show damage from Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast, Oct. 30, 2012.

How to Manage Retreat in the Face of Sea-Level Rise and Nuisance Floods

"Strategic retreat" as a response to rising sea levels isn't an easy sell, but a new report endeavors to make the idea more palatable.

September 24, 2016 - Regional Plan Association

New York Parking

Op-Ed: Parking Concerns Can't Outweigh Affordable Housing

Recent development controversies in New York City inspired one writer to set some priorities.

September 24, 2016 - The New York Times

Oakland

Planetizen Week in Review: September 24, 2016

More than one city made big planning news this week. You only need two minutes and thirty seconds to find out more.

September 24, 2016 - Planetizen

Construction crane in foreground, Denver skyline in background

Denver to Offer New Transit Oriented Height Bonuses for Affordable Housing

The city of Denver is going all in for incentive zoning to ensure affordable housing is included among new developments in the neighborhood around the new 38th and Blake transit station.

September 23, 2016 - The Denver Post

California Transit Agencies Bring Affordable Housing to Scale

From developer incentives to swapping parking for housing units, two transit systems have come up with plans that tackle the region's housing shortage and its economic inequality. What have they agreed to do, and who will hold them accountable?

September 23, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Google Maps Erases Publically Owned Open Spaces

Where's the green?

September 23, 2016 - NPR

corn field in polk county iowa

Big Agriculture Mergers Raising Antitrust Alarms

At risk with industry consolidation like a proposed merger of Bayer and Monsanto, is the environmental impact of the business, along with the financial impact on farmers.

September 22, 2016 - Vox

Houston

Land Use Changes Allow for Development Wave Near the Texas Medical Center

New leadership at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, along with new land use covenants, is paving the way for unprecedented development in the highly trafficked area.

September 22, 2016 - Houston Chronicle

Lombard Street San Francisco

Crowds of Pedestrians Prompt Lombard Street Study

San Francisco is looking for ways to manage—and protect—the masses of tourists who want to walk "the World's Crookedest Street."

September 22, 2016 - SF Gate

Subdivision

A Message to Suburban Counties: Invest in Transit or Get Left Behind

An op-ed directs a pointed pro-transit message to Gwinnett County near Atlanta.

September 21, 2016 - SaportaReport

cafe

Sweeping Parking Reform Approved in Oakland

The City Council of Oakland, California has approved a far-reaching reduction of parking requirements.

September 21, 2016 - East Bay Times

Houston

Lack of Zoning Leaves Houston Neighborhoods Vulnerable to Pollution

Houston doesn't compare well with other cities when it comes to locating polluting industrial uses near residential neighborhoods. Blame the city's lack of zoning, according to new research.

September 21, 2016 - Houston Chronicle

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.