Land Use

Huge Redevelopment Project Coming to Sacramento

12,000 new homes could be coming to Sacramento over the next two decades -- part of a $5.3 billion redevelopment focused on the city's historic railyards.

August 13, 2009 - The New York Times

Placemaking Through Zoning

Zoning is often portrayed as the great evil of city planning, but Les Pollock of Camiros argues that we shouldn't dismiss the power of zoning to create great communities.

August 13, 2009 - Leslie S. Pollock, FAICP

The Road to Damascus, OR

The Portland, Oregon area is well known for preserving agricultural land separate from urban areas. In the new town of Damascus on the border of the growth boundary, landowners are seeking a way to mix the two.

August 11, 2009 - The Oregonian

Finding a Middle Ground Between Rural and Urban

A new city being planned on 77 acres of agricultural land in Oregon has prompted some to question the hard difference between urban and rural as compartmentalized by the Portland area's urban growth boundary.

August 11, 2009 - The Oregonian

Car-Free Days Cancelled in One Vancouver Site

Local businesses on a busy Vancouver street that had been hosting weekly car-free events this summer have protested and effectively cancelled the event.

August 11, 2009 - CBC

Why Public Transit Doesn't Work In The U.S.

Gas taxes, parking charges, toll roads - these are the ingredients to making transit successful, according to experts who state that it's not enough to offer good transit - driving must become more expensive. Add to that high density land use.

August 10, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

New Portland Bridge Seeks to Ease Pedestrian and Cyclist Tensions

A new light rail bridge spanning the Willamette River in Portland will include separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists -- and no lanes for automobiles. But biker and pedestrian congestion remains a concern.

August 8, 2009 - The Oregonian

Outdated Zoning Stymies Development

Stamford, Connecticut's Downtown Special Services District knew that their zoning was causing needless delays and roadblocks to development. They hired the Regional Plan Association to do something about it.

August 8, 2009 - The Stamford Advocate

Form-Based Code Voted Down in Miami

In a surprising turn of opinion, Miami commissioners voted against the city's long-planned form-based code, Miami 21.

August 7, 2009 - The Miami Herald

The Problem of 'Family' Zoning

In 1975, the City of Oneonta, NY, established a law limiting the number of unrelated people allowed to live under one roof. Ruled unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court, the city is working on redefining the so-called 'family zoning.'

August 7, 2009 - The Oneonta Daily Star

Miami 21 and the Redevelopment of Biscayne Boulevard

The Miami Herald looks at the redevelopment of Biscayne Boulevard, which was unofficially accomplished using the still proposed Miami 21 zoning regulations, and wonders if all of the city's corridors could redevelop in such a manner.

August 6, 2009 - Miami Herald

Brainstorm: Who Are the Top Urban Thinkers?

Planetizen is creating a list of the most important people who have shaped urban places, and we want to know what you think. Vote on people nominated by the Planetizen community, or suggest your own. The polls close September 7.

August 6, 2009 - Planetizen

How to Build Chicago

This video from WTTW looks at a huge new model of the city of Chicago, and shows how it was built.

August 6, 2009 - WTTW

Density Isn't Everything

Neal Payton says that density gets too much of the limelight when planning transit-oriented development, and that design and diversity should get more focus during the planning stages.

August 5, 2009 - ULI

Big Box Retail to Destroy Ancient Indian Mound

Officials in the city of Oxford, Alabama have approved the construction of a Sam's Club retail store that will use the dirt of a 1,500 year old Native American ceremonial mound as fill, arguing against reports of its historical significance.

August 5, 2009 - Grist

Understanding Atlantic Yards

Katherine Melia explains the relevant points on the Atlantic Yards controversy in Brooklyn for those not embroiled in the controversy over eminent domain, starchitecture, and more.

August 5, 2009 - Next American City

Park Built On Top of Contaminated Site

New public space has opened in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in an unlikely place. The new park sits a few feet above the contaminated grounds of a deactivated municipal incinerator.

August 4, 2009 - Metropolis

Jane Jacobs, NIMBY?

Howard Husock reads two new books on Jane Jacobs, which he says reveal the unexplored significance of Jacob's activist side, opening the doors to protesting the entire activity of city planning.

August 3, 2009 - City Journal

Suburbs: The Last Frontier

As people move to cities and the outer suburbs begin to become more desolate, what will become of them? WorldChanging envisions the suburbs as the next frontier.

August 3, 2009 - WorldChanging

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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.