Land Use

Building Communities That Work For The Young And Old

A new toolkit demonstrates how the challenges of the nation's aging population can help create sustainable communities that benefit everyone.

March 1, 2007 - World Watch Institute

Oregon's New 'Big Look'

Can Oregon, Metro and Portland learn from the rest of the nation in their new planning efforts: Regulation and policy, alone, do not produce development.

February 27, 2007 - The Oregonian

Billboards Invade Suburban Towns

Communities in Pennsylvania and other stats are struggling to develop regulations in the face of a growing number of billboard applications.

February 26, 2007 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Save Downtown With Restrictive Zoning

Why industrial areas are vital to healthy cities.

February 23, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

What's Needed For True Sustainable Urbanism?

Cities are taking the lead in working towards a sustainable future, yet there's so much left to do. It's time for professionals to take a systems approach, argues Neal Peirce.

February 22, 2007 - The American Prospect

Is Sustainability Here To Stay?

Thinking and acting green is all the rage these days, but commentator Neal Peirce ponders if it can ultimately be more than just a passing fad?

February 22, 2007 - AlterNet

Texans Wrangle With Wildlife In Sprawling Suburbs

Increasing conflicts between suburbanites and wild critters battling for habitat prompts urban biologists to find solutions for coyotes, racoons, and feral pigs.

February 20, 2007 - The Houston Chronicle

Planning on Walking?

With positive effects on public health, safety, and environmental quality -- walkability has become the new buzz word in planning.

February 20, 2007 - Wayne Senville

Putting Schools At The Center

A movement is afoot to make schools more than just places to store kids for eight hours a day. Planning Director Gail Goldberg and child advocate Yolie Flores Aguilar are helping lead the way in Los Angeles.

February 19, 2007 - The Planning Report

Resident Oppose Bus Depot Plans For Farmland

Residents have voiced their concerns over Baltimore County plans to purchase a 26-acre farm that include using part of the open space as a school bus depot.

February 18, 2007 - The Baltimore Sun

Solving the Public Health Crisis with Smarter City Planning

At an alarming rate, American children are suffering from obesity and related afflictions. Despite all the money spent on health care, the solution to many public health problems lies not in medicine but in the fabric of cities.

February 17, 2007 - The Planning Report

Making Public Policy at 2 A.M.

Bill Fulton, smart growth expert and a City Council member in Ventura, California, recounts a marathon eight hour city council meeting and two controversial land use projects the council approves.

February 15, 2007 - Bill Fulton's Blog

Anti-Sprawl Development Guidelines Approved In Alabama

Sweeping guidelines have been approved in Shelby County, Alabama, that will strictly govern the development of housing subdivisions. The new regulations require a mixture of uses and an increase in walkability and green space.

February 15, 2007 - The Birmingham News

Dublin May Be On The Road To L.A.-Style Sprawl

Urban researchers have released a report warning that Dublin, Ireland, may soon have a sprawling footprint comparable to Los Angeles, but with less than one quarter the population. The report also suggests more investment in public transportation.

February 13, 2007 - The Irish Times

Report Examines Open Space Conservation Plans

This report from the Environmental Law Institute examines the role and relative success of 28 open space protection and conservation efforts. It offers guidelines for creating land use plans that allow for development and conservation.

February 13, 2007 - Environmental Law Institute

The Potential Of Infill

In Toronto, two opportunities to breathe life into the forgotten corners of the city.

February 13, 2007 - Maisonneuve

Report: Measure 37-Two Years of Property Wrongs

A new analysis on Oregon's Measure 37 reveals that many voters see mainly negative impacts of the law.

February 13, 2007 - Sightline Institute (formerly NEW, Northwest Environment Watch)

Land Conservation And Renewable Fuels Production Collide

The nation's zeal to break its oil addiction has run into conflict with a land conservation program that has been important to both farmers and hunting groups in order to boost corn production to supply ethanol as a renewable transportation fuel.

February 10, 2007 - AP via Yahoo News

How To Build Support For Sustainable Planning And Development

Liberal Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson has been successfully building support for smart growth during his seven years at the helm of this conservative city. Grist sits down with the Mayor to learn the secret of his success.

February 9, 2007 - Grist

Central Austin Zones For Vertical Mixed Use

To encourage development that is consistent with the city's vision for sustainable development, planners have created a new zoning designation that looks like a win-win for developers and neighborhoods -- if they can stand the density.

February 9, 2007 - The Austin Chronicle

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.