Land Use
Grand Canyon Development Plans Opposed by National Park Service
Two projects proposed for the South Rim plateau of the Grand Canyon have raised alarms at the National Park Service, who see a serious threat from impacts to the views, water supply, and ecology of the canyon.
Detroit Reaping Economic Development Benefits from Urban Farming
Urban farming has taken root as Detroit transforms. Now, farmers and entrepreneurs must continue to find new ways to profit from the city's new farming business model.
More Disincentives for Driving Required for Philadelphia to Achieve 'Greenest' Status
Philadelphia's Mayor Michael Nutter has set a policy goal of becoming the "Greenest City in America," but the city's lack of progress in reducing automobile use is a troubling obstacle to such a lofty goal.
Planners Express Frustration with Inertia in Los Angeles
"Whither planning in Los Angeles?" Sam Hall Kaplan seeks to find out.
Broad, Controversial Land Use Regulations Proposed for Mississippi River through Minnesota
After a failed attempt at similarly broad land use regulations failed in 2011, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is again undertaking an outreach process to create land use regulations along 72 miles of the Mississippi River.
What Makes a 'Farmers' Market?'
What constitutes a farmers' market, rather than an outdoor or public market?
Fracking Opponents in New York Achieve Landmark Legal Victory
In a huge victory for fracking opponents and a major blow to the shale gas drilling industry, the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest, ruled on June 30 that municipalities can use zoning laws to enact fracking bans or moratoria.
Comparing Naperville and Joliet: the Underappreciated Importance of Legacy
Pete Saunders compares the disparate experiences of two Chicago suburbs, Naperville and Joliet, who took different approaches to legacy.
Bill Could Change Street Sweeping, Parking Regulations in New York City
The singular urban dance, or traffic jam, of "alternate-side-of-the-street parking" could get a reprieve with a new bill before the New York City Council.
Houston's Municipal Golf Courses Struggling to Make Ends Meet
Many cities around the country are facing the question about whether they should subsidize city-owned golf courses as the game's popularity declines. Supporters of "munis" say they provide an affordable location for outdoor recreation.
Gone Viral: Swett, South Dakota for Sale at $400,000
A tiny prairie town, unincorporated and controlled by a single owner, can be yours if you have the funds available. The town is a local draw thanks to its bar, the Swett Tavern.
Op-Ed: Stop Demonizing the Suburbs
Jacquielynn Floyd writes an op-ed for the Dallas News in which she defends the suburbs from the "demonization" of "new urbanism."
Six Years Later—More Revisions for Washington D.C.'s Zoning Code Update
None of the original team that began working on Washington D.C.'s zoning code update are still working on the project. Much has changed in the six years that have expired.
Kern County Adopts Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy
Amanda Eaken details Kern County's new Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS). The new plan implements California's SB 375, which serves as the land use component of California's carbon emissions reductions goals.
California Cracks Down on Beach Blocking Scofflaws
The California Coastal Commission has a powerful new tool to go after homeowners who block access to the state's beaches—the CC can now fine such scofflaws instead of taking them to court.
Report Decries Slow Project Delivery by New York City Parks Department
New Yorkers for Parks released a study earlier this month finding that the Department of Parks and Recreation is one of the city's slowest when it comes to finishing projects on a reasonable timeframe.
'Urban Reviewer' Archives New York City's 155 Neighborhood Master Plans
The 596 Acres project to catalogue and improve vacant, publicly owned lots in New York City produced another great tool called the Urban Reviewer, which gathers all of New York's adopted neighborhood master plans in one place.
SFPark Releases Data on Two-Year Pilot Phase
The SFPark two-year pilot has concluded, and the city recently released comprehensive data that make a good case for its success in almost every possible metric of parking management. Now can the city expand the program?
Environmentalists Settle Lawsuit on Plan Bay Area
Two down, two to go. Rarely has a regional transportation/land use plan been sued by so many diverse groups. Environmentalists settled with Bay Area regional planning agencies with assurances that the 2017 plan will better account for GHG reductions.
Reducing the Number of Abandoned Properties in Louisville
Louisville, like many other cities around the country, has been working hard to reduce the number of abandoned buildings. Recent efforts have provided the city with a new road map for blight reduction.
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
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Portland
City of Laramie
