Land Use

The flag of Prince George's County00a red croiss in a white field with a crest of arms in the upper left corner, blows in the wind.

Zoning Controversy Ahead of November Election in Prince George's County, Maryland

The Prince George's County Council is facing a dramatic overhaul in the November election, so current councilmembers are trying to solidify their zoning legacy, while making it harder for future councilmembers to do the same.

October 3, 2022 - The Washington Post

Rendering of Culdesac Tempe development

What Is a Variance?

Variances allow for development projects to deviate from the zoning code on a case-by-case basis—if the project developer can prove a unique economic or physical hardship.

October 2, 2022 - James Brasuell

Front of brick elementary school building in Texas

Austin School District Properties Could Host Affordable Housing

The District is weighing early proposals to include housing units for teachers and staff in the redevelopment of a group of six ‘underutilized’ district properties.

October 2, 2022 - CBS Austin

Brutalism

Zoning Board of Appeals Overhaul One Step Toward Approval Process Reform in Boston

Mayor Wu recently overhauled the makeup of Boston’s Zoning Board of Appeals, but bigger changes will be necessary to depoliticize the city’s development approvals process.

October 2, 2022 - The Boston Globe

Runway and plane taking off at Paine Field, Everett, Washington

Will Snohomish County Light Rail Bypass the Airport?

Some county leaders rejected two proposed routes that would skirt Boeing and Paine Field, citing the area’s high potential for travelers and jobs.

September 30, 2022 - HeraldNet

Rendering of Innovation QNS with landscaped open public space on corner and glass-clad building

2.7-Million-Square-Foot Astoria Project Approved

The development will include over 2,800 housing units and 2 acres of public open space.

September 30, 2022 - Urbanize New York

A crowd of people cross the street with a sign for the entrance of Disneyland in the background

Disneyland Is Too Crowded. Is More Capacity Needed?

Disneyland has a plan to create more supply to meet contemporary demand, a strategy reminiscent of contemporary debates surrounding housing and transportation.

September 29, 2022 - James Brasuell

View of street in Pasadena, California with church at left and city hall in background

‘Yes in God’s Backyard’ Movement Wins in Pasadena

Houses of worship in the California city will be allowed to build housing on their properties in an effort to alleviate the city’s housing shortage.

September 28, 2022 - The Real Deal

Downtown Houston and Buffalo Bayou

$100 Million to Help Fund Buffalo Bayou Expansion in Houston

Originally proposed in 2019, the Buffalo Park East Master Plan, which would extend Buffalo Bayou Park to the East End and Fifth Ward neighborhoods, is suddenly in high gear.

September 27, 2022 - Buffalo Bayou Partnership

A view of Downtown Cleveland and the Cuyahoga River as pictured from a downtown high-rise building.

Cleveland Launches New Master Plan to Connect Downtown to Lake Erie

Dual, cooperating studies are underway in Cleveland to reimagine the connections between the city's downtown and lakefront.

September 27, 2022 - Cleveland.com

Covered outdoor dining patio on street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Opinion: Support Citizen-Led Public Space Projects

A public space advocate outlines how Philadelphia’s city leaders could support the parklets, plazas, and other public space conversions that proliferated during the pandemic.

September 26, 2022 - WHYY

A photo of the former Heinz factory in Pennsylvania, renovated as condominiums and apartments.

Zoning Changes, Federal Funds Enable Adaptive Reuse Program in Pittsburgh

Funding and zoning changes are likely necessary but insufficient on their own, to borrow a phrase from Nolan Gray. Pittsburgh hopes to deploy both to spur adaptive reuse in the city.

September 26, 2022 - Trib Live

A rendering of a proposed development, with apartment buildings and neighborhood-serving retail.

Tempe’s Car-Free Developers Headed to Atlanta

Culdesac, developer of a massive no-parking multi-family development in Arizona, is headed to Georgia.

September 25, 2022 - Reporter Newspapers

Anchorage Alaska

Opinion: Why Anchorage Should Eliminate Parking Minimums

With an average of eight parking spots per one car, U.S. cities have a glut of parking. How can valuable urban space be used more effectively?

September 22, 2022 - Anchorage Daily News

California State Capital

California Continues its Housing Policy Reinvention

It’s no longer business as usual in California when it comes to planning and developing housing.

September 22, 2022 - The New York Times

Orange Line train pulling into station with one woman waiting to board in Boston, Massachusetts

When Transit-Oriented Development Is Missing the ‘Transit’

Cities, residents, and developers have a renewed interest in building more housing near transit stations—when they actually provide safe, reliable transit.

September 21, 2022 - Boston Globe

Outdoor Dining

Revamped Curb Management Strategies Among Pandemic Changes Likely to Stick in Cities

With so many more people working from home, ordering delivery, and moving around the public realm in new ways, advanced curb management strategies are among the pandemic-era innovations likely to stick long into the future.

September 21, 2022 - David Thom

Copenhagen Bikes

The Inflation Reduction Act's 'Inadequate' Reliance on Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but not enough to prevent the worst of climate change and not as much as walkable cities with far fewer cars on the road.

September 20, 2022 - Urban Institute

Mega-Developments

Revisiting New York’s Massive Sunnyside Yard Master Plan

You might have lost track of the Sunnyside Yard Master Plan—a proposal for 12,000 new housing units in Queens—because it was announced to the public in March 2020 and has since been shelved.

September 14, 2022 - Gotham Gazette

View of Jackson Square, New Orleans with cathedral and street dancers in foreground

Bringing Back America’s Town Squares

Digital connection is no substitute for the vitality and community created by open, pleasant public squares and plazas.

September 13, 2022 - Governing

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.