Land Use

Which Cities Will Be Abandoned by 2100?

A special Forbes series on the Future of Cities includes estimations about the types of communities and major cities may face extinction by 2100.

June 21, 2007 - Forbes

Shaping America's Cities: Part 1 - A Debate Over Sprawl

Author Robert Bruegmann and activist Gloria Ohland debate over urban sprawl.

June 20, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Are The Cities Of The Future Destined To Be Mega-slums?

By 2030, an estimated 2 billion of the 5 billion people who will be living in cities will live in slums, primarily in Africa and Asia.

June 20, 2007 - Forbes

The Corruption Of Smart Growth

With many developers touting their various projects as "smart growth", the term is losing much of it meaning.

June 20, 2007 - The Hartford Courant

Ranch vs. McMansion

Wayne Senville is on a trip across the U.S. on Route 50. He reports on how Creve Coeur, Missouri, is a well-kept suburb west of the city of St. Louis, is handling the trend of ranch homes are being torn down and replaced with McMansions.

June 19, 2007 - Greetings From Route 50

Oregon's Measure 37 Heading Back To The Ballot

In Oregon, the controversial land use law Measure 37 is on its way back to the ballot this November, as lawmakers look to limit the development rights granted by the measure in 2004.

June 13, 2007 - The Oregonian

A Walkable Downtown Los Angeles?

As part of a new set of guiding principles that call on city planners to 'demand a walkable city', Los Angeles may adopt new standards requiring developers to widen sidewalks, not streets.

June 13, 2007 - LA Downtown News

TODs Prove To Be A Boon For Urban Regions

In this special report, the WSJ examines the growing popularity of rail-based TODs, examining their effect on land values as well as the challenges they may face in obtaining approval.

June 13, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal

Book That Examines Suburban Lifestyle Inspires Life Changes

The book, "Death by Suburb: How to Keep the Suburbs from Killing Your Soul" is making the rounds among church congregations who find meaning in its message.

June 12, 2007 - The Washington Post

California Sues Municipalities for Bad Urban Planning

Using a technique typically used by advocates, California's Attorney General is trying to use lawsuits to persuade local governments to curb sprawl and prevent global warming.

June 11, 2007 - USA Today

A Browner Shade of Green: The New Water Rules and the Next Chapter of Sprawl

Stormwater mitigation rules are supposed to help protect the environment, but the current regulations also end up encouraging sprawl over urban redevelopment.

June 11, 2007 - Lisa Nisenson

Los Angeles' Smart Growth Saga

The city is working hard to increase density, but with Angelenos firmly attached to their cars and the region's transit moving at a snail's pace, can smart growth really work in L.A.?

June 11, 2007 - LA Weekly

Smart Growth Leaders Still Living Low Density American Dream

While encouraging the city's residents to embrace higher densities and public transit, many of Los Angeles's smart growth advocates live in single family homes and commute long distances in cars.

June 10, 2007 - LA Weekly

Sprawling? See You in Court!

Citing the threat posed by climate change, the State Attorney General of California Jerry Brown has filed suit against a community for failing to rein in sprawl.

June 8, 2007 - USA Today

Oregon's Land Use Laws Haven't Depressed Land Prices

Research by economists at Oregon State University shows that the state's land prices have not been impacted by its strong planning system and land-use regulations.

June 8, 2007 - Portland Business Journal

Integrating The Farm With The City

The idea of linking agriculture and smart growth is gaining ground in California's booming rural areas.

June 8, 2007 - New America Foundation

Turning Shuttered School Sites Into New Homes

Forced to close schools due to shrinking enrollment, a Detroit suburb is selling its surplus schools to housing developers in hopes that children from new families will prop up remaining schools in the community.

June 7, 2007 - Metro Times

Sydney's Mayor: 'Environmental Crisis Looms Large'

The Lord Mayor of Sydney has used very blunt language to characterize the city's future, yet planning to counter anticipated problems is still in the early stages.

June 7, 2007 - The Sydney Morning Herald

California Needs To Follow Sacramento's Regional Planning Model

A recent editorial argues that the successful model of regional planning in the Sacramento region known as the "Blueprint" provides an alternative to sprawl that needs to be applied statewide, and identifies current state legislation to do just that.

June 7, 2007 - The Sacramento Bee

Transportation Expert Urges Napa To Support Higher Densities To Reduce Global Warming

Transportation expert Reid Ewing appeared in Napa to tout higher densities and mixed-use development. The county is updating it transportation plan and considering a second attempt to pass a transportation sales tax measure.

June 6, 2007 - Napa Valley Register

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.