Land Use

Hillside home construction in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Analysis: California’s Single-Family Zoning ‘Killer’ Barely Making a Dent So Far

Senate Bill 9, approved by the California State Legislature to much fanfare in 2021, has had little impact on the way local governments do development business, according to a recent analysis by researchers at the University of California.

January 22, 2023 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Aerial view of Bend, Oregon with river and old mill district

Bend Eliminates Parking Minimums

The city is complying with an Oregon state mandate that some cities have challenged in court.

January 20, 2023 - KTVZ

Aerial view of I-10 junction over swamp near New Orleans, Louisiana

$50 Billion Coastal Master Plan Updated in Louisiana

Louisiana is losing coastal lands, quickly, along with the habitat and economic resources located there. A Coastal Master Plan plots $50 billion in spending to protect the coast.

January 20, 2023 - NOLA.com

Google street view of New York City intersection with construction fence

Harlem Apartment Project Nixed in Favor of Truck Depot

After a proposal for a mixed-use development failed to gain support from a local city councilmember, the developer turned the site into a truck storage depot, prompting concerns over air quality and health impacts.

January 20, 2023 - The New York Times

Rendering of Midtown Connector freeway cap park in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Receives $3.2 Million for Freeway Cap Plan

The federal funding will help move forward planning for an ambitious proposal to cap a downtown Atlanta freeway with a 25-acre park.

January 19, 2023 - Urbanize Atlanta

Serial view of elevated freeway interchanges with downtown Houston in background

Details for Houston Interstate Project Remain Hazy

With the project still under federal investigation, local and state agencies say they are moving forward with the development of design details for the contentious freeway redesign.

January 19, 2023 - Houston Chronicle

A conceptual rendering of a revamped train station in a historic corner of Salt Lake City.

A Citizen-Led Plan Would Revamp Salt Lake’s Transit and Freeway Mix

The Rio Grande Plan would restore rail service to the Rio Grande Depot and reconnect a community divided by a freeway in Salt Lake City.

January 18, 2023 - Salt Lake City Weekly

Hillsborough River

Op-Ed: Tampa Bay Needs More, Denser Housing

With rents skyrocketing and the region facing a steep housing shortage, housing advocates argue now is the time for zoning reform that encourages missing middle housing and transit-oriented development.

January 18, 2023 - Tampa Bay Times

Early morning view of new neighborhoods and Route 215 from the top of Lone Mountain in Northwest Las Vegas.

Zoning Has Support for Sprawl: Subdivision, Covenants, and Mortgages

Zoning codes are not the only kind of land use control that has built the U.S. residential market on the suburban model for more than a century, according to a recent article in The Urbanist.

January 17, 2023 - The Urbanist

Streetscape in Chinatown, Washington, D.C.

Density as a Scapegoat

Does compact development cause higher rents? No.

January 17, 2023 - Michael Lewyn

Albany

New York Governor Takes a YIMBY Turn

Governor Kathy Hochul wants to build 800,000 new homes in New York in the next decade.

January 16, 2023 - Governor Kathy Hochul

Empty chairs and tables on sidewalk at a Phialdelphia restaurant

New Philadelphia Outdoor Dining Laws Exclude Most Restaurants

Restaurant owners argue that new requirements for the city’s permanent outdoor dining program are practically impossible for most of them to meet.

January 13, 2023 - Philadelphia Magazine

Oil Pump in Los Angeles

Lawsuit Challenges L.A. Oil Drilling Ban

Oil companies with operations in the city of Los Angeles are suing over an ordinance that seeks to phase out drilling within city limits due to public health and environmental concerns.

January 12, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Aerial view of port community of San Pedro, California

EPA Grants Target Environmental Justice

The agency will administer $100 million in grants to cities, states, and tribal nations as part of the Biden administration’s Justice40 initiative.

January 12, 2023 - Route Fifty

A rendering of a large park space and public theater.

Harley Davidson Includes Community Park in Headquarters Revamp

Milwaukee is about to get a major community space upgrade thanks to one of its most recognizable hometown brands.

January 12, 2023 - Urban Milwaukee

Los Angeles, California

City Council Controversy Threatens L.A.’s Proposed Downtown Plan

A Los Angeles Times editorial explains how political intrigue is spilling over into planning frustration in the city of Los Angeles.

January 11, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco, California

The High Cost of Climate Disasters

Extreme weather events in the United States cost $165 billion and killed more than 474 people last year.

January 11, 2023 - Bloomberg Green

Portland Condo High-Rise

Zoning Reform: New Politics, Same Old Challenges

The political will for zoning reforms has never been stronger. The traditional opponents of development, however, are still finding ways to push back.

January 11, 2023 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Rendering of Watermark District campus redevelopment

Houston Office Park Continues Adaptive Reuse Trend

The former ConocoPhillips campus, built as a self-sufficient complex complete with a lagoon and fitness center, will be repurposed into a mixed-use waterfront development.

January 10, 2023 - The Architect's Newspaper

San Diego skyline and apartment buildings

Proposed San Diego Code Update Seeks to Increase Density Near Transit

A set of proposed updates to the city’s development code would expand TOD zones and encourage more backyard dwellings.

January 9, 2023 - Del Mar 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.