Land Use

Idaho Proposition Threatens Land Use Law

Planners are spooked by a Measure 37 look-a-like bill that spills over into Idaho.

August 12, 2006 - The Boise Weekly

A Battle For Open Space In Maryland

50 acres of woodland are up for sale in Maryland, and while a developer has scoped the land as a good site for 25 homes, local residents are pressuring local and state officials to employ a little-used open space funding program to buy up the land.

August 12, 2006 - The Baltimore Sun

Measuring Quality Of Life In The Treasure Valley Region

A report by Institute for Urban & Regional Planning at Boise State University looks at competitiveness and quality of life of the Treasure Valley.

August 11, 2006 - Boise State University Public Policy Center

New Orleans Short On Planning Staff

Developers are having to wait longer for project approvals, which may slow the city's recovery from Hurricane Katrina. HUD has denied the city's request to hire more staff using federal money.

August 11, 2006 - New Orleans City Business

Land Use Regulations In 50 Largest U.S. Metro Areas

Local land use regulations help define the character of cities, towns, counties, and entire regions, directly affecting the composition of inhabitants by facilitating or inhibiting rental properties and low-income residents. This comprehensive survey

August 11, 2006 - The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program

Small Urban Farms Show Success In Cuba

Small organic farms are scattered throughout Cuba that have been providing food for the country ever since the fall of the Soviet empire 20 years ago. The collaboration between the government and local farmers has benefited the whole country.

August 11, 2006 - The Independent

Jobs-Housing Balance: An Outdated Planning Concept?

A quick look at the Seattle metro area shows the term may be obsolete.

August 9, 2006 - The Seattle Times

Stormwater Runoff -- A Community Amenity?

Dealing with stormwater runoff and the pollutants it carries has been the responsibility of civil engineers for decades. But it's been suggested that planners and architects elevate this infrastructural concern to the heights of community design.

August 9, 2006 - Smart Growth Online

Is Infill Development Just Vertical Sprawl?

Opponents of high density development argue that urban infill causes just as many problems as traditional sprawl.

August 8, 2006 - The New York Times

Giving Teens A Say In Community Plans

Teenagers in Providence, Rhode Island, are getting a taste of classic planning issues.

August 8, 2006 - Rhode Island News

Is 'Greenprint Denver' Plan Enough?

The mayor of Denver, Colorado, has a plan to make the city more environmentally healthy by setting goals of sustainable development. The authors of this editorial in the Denver Post argue that the mayor's plan doesn't go far enough.

August 8, 2006 - The Denver Post

Don't Fight Against Suburbs, Make Them Better

With the suburban lifestyle clearing entrenched in the American mainstream, planners should stop criticizing suburban living and help address the environmental and societal problems that face the nation's low-density communities.

August 7, 2006 - The Next American City

Property Rights Votes Face Six States

Libertarians are pushing ballot initiatives in six Western states to vastly reduce the government's power to regulate land uses. The initiatives seek to limit regulatory takings of land by requiring the government to compensate owners for any losses.

August 7, 2006 - High Country News

Michigan County Hopes To Preserve Farmland

Rural Lapeer County, near Flint, Michigan, is proposing to use public money to compensate farmers in exchange for limiting new residential and commercial development.

August 6, 2006 - WJRT ABC 12

Mining Companies Blast Mountaintops and Memories

Controversial technique by mining companies of dynamiting moutaintops to get at coal destroys more than the environment.

August 4, 2006 - Grist Magazine

100,000 Visions For Portland

The City of Portland's mayor has undertaken an effort to get input from more than 100,000 residents about what they want Portland to be. The city's alternative weekly paper, The Mercury has outlined its own vision for Portland's future.

August 4, 2006 - The Portland Mercury

New Urbanism Hits The Mainstream In Britain

Backed by government support, Britain's land use laws are bringing new urbanism to the mainstream.

August 3, 2006 - The Economist

Toronto Project LEEDs City And Developer To Green

A new green project near Toronto is fostering a LEED-ing of the city. The 243-acre development will be Canada's largest LEED-certified project yet, and though the developer hadn't planned on going green, it turned out to be more profitable.

August 3, 2006 - The Globe and Mail

Growth Is Squeezing Out Rural Life In Arizona

Arizona's rural landscapes are being taken over and obstructed by huge housing booms and development projects. Residents are supporting a ballot initiative to preserve hundreds of thousands of acres of land, while legislators side with developers.

August 2, 2006 - The Arizona Republic

Officials Predict Gridlock After Army Base Realignment

State and local officials worry US Army plans to relocate 22,000 employees to Fort Belvoir may cause severe traffic problems.

August 2, 2006 - The Washington Post

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.