Land Use

Developed Agricultural Land May Become 'The Next L.A.'

Farmland in Central California's San Joaquin County is replaced with development more than any other county in the state -- a wasteful pattern that could create the "next L.A.", according to a new report.

March 11, 2008 - The Stockton Record

City's 'Lungs' Paved Over

Urban projects have resulted in the paving over of significant chunks of parkland in Melbourne, Australia -- land set aside more than 150 years ago to act as the city's lungs.

March 11, 2008 - The Age

Similar Sister Cities

A look at the similarities between Los Angeles and Mexico City.

March 11, 2008 - LA Weekly

Sacramento Outsmarts San Francisco, L.A.

Residents of San Francisco and Los Angeles like to feel superior to supposedly unsophisticated Sacramento. Yet, Sacramento appears to be ahead of the hip coastal areas when it comes to actually implementing smart growth.

March 10, 2008 - California Planning & Development Repot

Guarding the Hollywood Sign

This report from NPR looks at the impending sale of land on the hillside above the infamous Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, and the local official who's trying to prevent it.

March 10, 2008 - NPR

Urbanismo Nuevo

New Urbanism sprouts up in Baja California, Mexico.

March 10, 2008 - The New York Times

Making Cities More Livable with Bikes

This piece from the Globe and Mail argues that a bikeable city is a livable city.

March 9, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

Is Now the Time for an MPO in Melbourne?

With government plans to increase the amount of land used for affordable housing in Melbourne, Australia, some say it's time for a regional planning entity.

March 8, 2008 - The Age

Public Spaces Key to Flint's Rebirth

With a focus on public spaces, Flint, Michigan, is looking to revitalize itself.

March 7, 2008 - Making Places

Is a Sprawling Future on Tap for Melbourne?

The city of Melbourne, Australia, is on track to surpass Sydney as the country's most populated. But the expected population growth may push the city into a sprawling and unsustainable future.

March 7, 2008 - The Age

Not Only Arsonists Are Opposed to McMansions

Local opposition to McMansions in suburban Seattle was prevalent long before arsonists burned down three luxury homes this week. But those opposed to so-called "rural cluster development" housing worry the criminal acts may work against their goals.

March 6, 2008 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Suburb Eyes Urban Density

Officials in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler are rallying behind proposals to increase density in the city, arguing that the urban shift will make the city more vibrant.

March 6, 2008 - The Arizona Republic

The Placemaking Checklist

The Project for Public Spaces offers this checklist to help determine if your city is a "great" city.

March 6, 2008 - Making Places

Bay Area Reluctantly Warms Up to On-Ramp Metering

With increasing congestion and freeways built out just about as far as they can go, transportation planners in the San Francisco Bay Area are considering plans to put on-ramp metering lights on many of the area's most congested stretches of freeway.

March 6, 2008 - The Contra Costa Times

The Bridge to Nowhere, Sprawl, and the Alaska Senate Race

Alaska's "bridge to nowhere" would really be a bridge to sprawl -- and that's why it'll be a crucial issue in the upcoming Senate re-election campaign of 84-year-old Ted Stevens against Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich.

March 5, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

Government Programs Stifle Local Farmers

Government subsidy programs designed to support the production of the four major food crops are limiting - even penalizing - small farmers' ability to meet regional demand for local fruits and vegetables.

March 5, 2008 - The New York Times

A Brief History of Planning in San Diego

As the city of San Diego prepares to consider a new general plan, the San Diego Union-Tribune looks back at the last 100 years in city planning.

March 4, 2008 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Border Fence Plan Fight Continues in Texas

This report from NPR examines the controversy and battle brewing between the federal government and small towns in Texas over a Department of Homeland Security plan to build more than 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.

March 4, 2008 - NPR

Koolhaas' Dubai Master Plan is Bold and Reserved

In his 1.5 billion square-foot master plan for a waterfront city in Dubai, architect Rem Koolhaas has proposed a dense and elaborate city, but one that doesn't try to rely too much on flashy high-end architecture.

March 3, 2008 - The New York Times

Energy Use On the Rise in India

In certain isolated pockets of India, energy use is skyrocketing. But because the country's per capita use remains low, there is little movement to curb usage in new highly-energetic cities.

March 3, 2008 - The New York Times

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.