Land Use

Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan Wrestles With Urban Growth

As increasing density and increasing housing costs raise temperatures all over Seattle, residents and planners are engaging in a comprehensive plan that will determine how the city grows over the next 20 years.

June 5, 2015 - Crosscut

Katy Freeway

Too Big for Texas? Houston's 23-Lane Freeway

After a $2.3 billion widening project, traffic once again chokes the Katy Freeway's 23 lanes. For road spending critics who are also taxpayers, this I-told-you-so moment is bittersweet.

June 5, 2015 - Streetsblog Network

Controversial Bill to Create Transit Corridor Development Authority in Connecticut

Eminent domain is just one of the powers that would be granted the new Transit Corridor Development Authority, per House Bill 6851. The controversial bill is pitting the state's governor against opponents that argue in favor of local power.

June 5, 2015 - CT Post

Waterfront Botanical Gardens in the Works for a Derelict Corner of Louisville

A historic neighborhood lost in a flood, covered by a dump, then reclaimed by nature will become the Waterfront Botanical Gardens under terms of a recent land deal.

June 4, 2015 - Broken Sidewalk

San Francisco Houses

San Francisco's Proposed Housing Moratorium Is a Bad Idea

After San Francisco Supervisors reject housing moratorium, proponents vow ballot initiative. But a moratorium is the wrong solution to the problem and would likely lead to continued price increases, condo conversions, and Ellis Act evictions.

June 4, 2015 - Reuben Duarte

The Plaza: What Makes a Community Living Room?

The Plaza can behave as the community living room. Why is this so hard to get right in post-WWII U.S.?

June 3, 2015 - PlaceShakers

The Code Change That Could Enable Mid-Rise Construction in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. must wrap up its consideration of the 2015 International Building Code by July. Adoption of the IBC could enable new types of density in the nation's capital.

June 3, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

Public Meeting

Collecting Comments on a PDF Planning Document on the Web?

How do you collect public comments on a web-based PDF planning document? It should be simple. But it isn't.

June 2, 2015 - Chris Steins

Medical Marijuana Emerges from the Haze in Florida

A new medical marijuana industry has been on hold in Florida, but permit processing can now begin following a court decision this week that upheld newly-developed regulations.

June 1, 2015 - Orlando Sentinel

Home Sold Sign

No More Hidden Gems Thanks to Investor-Centric Real Estate

Although large investors made only 4.3 percent of single-family home purchases in 2014, they may be reducing the competitiveness of traditional buyers. With ready cash and sophisticated algorithms, investors get there first and make better bids.

May 31, 2015 - CityLab

The Health and Social Justice Implications of 'Line-Source' Air Pollution

The most dangerous air pollution is not smog and is barely known by the public, writes Bill Adams, editor of UrbDeZine. Line-source particulate matter air pollution could change the way the public thinks about road projects and gas powered cars.

May 31, 2015 - UrbDeZine.com

Food Trucks

Proposed Boulder Food Park Faces Zoning Challenges

The proposed Boulder Food Park repurposes a decrepit site into usable space for food truck patrons. Since the site is adjacent to a brick-and-mortar restaurant, a zoning exemption may be required.

May 29, 2015 - The Denver Post

Kansas City Development

How Kansas City Over-Subsidized Downtown

Eager for downtown development, Kansas City signed a deal subsidizing Cordish Companies to the tune of $295 million. The rejuvenated district should be self-sustaining. So why is the city still funding Cordish?

May 29, 2015 - Next City

Environmental Criticism for the Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan

The Seattle 2035 will manage growth for one of the fastest growing cities in the country. But shouldn't it also mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions of this famously eco-conscious city?

May 28, 2015 - Publicola

Tulsa Arkansas River

Planners Across America: Dawn Warrick On Implementing Tulsa's Comprehensive Plan

In this interview for the "Planners Across America" series, Tulsa Planning Director Dawn Warrick describes the implementation process for the PlaniTulsa Comprehensive Plan.

May 27, 2015 - Josh Stephens

$400 Million Needed for Oakland NFL Stadium Deal Lacks Political Support

One city is prioritizing fiscal sanity over a new football stadium—at least for now.

May 27, 2015 - SFGate

Home For Sale Signs

Reports Surveys Property Tax Burdens in all 50 States

The annual "50-State Property Tax Comparison Study" offers a thorough resource for understanding the role of property taxes in fiscal responsibility at the municipal level.

May 27, 2015 - At Lincoln House

Deep Ellum

Left Behind in Dallas' Suburban Boom: the Urban Core

Some planners and government officials in Dallas are concerned about the suburban boom occurring in counties north of Dallas. The reasons why are reminiscent of the Rust Belt in the 1960s.

May 25, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Oregon Moves Forward With 'Unprecedented' Plans for Coastal Golf Course

Inside the deal that could open a huge swatch of highly protected Oregon coastal land to a developer with plans for a golf course.

May 25, 2015 - The Oregonian

Drought Exacerbates Conflict Between Cattle and Almonds in California's Central Valley

Sasha Khokha takes an in-depth look at the conflicting interests of cattle and almond businesses in California's Central Valley.

May 24, 2015 - KQED

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.