Land Use

How Minimum Size Requirements Hamper Housing Production
Minimum square footage requirements are preventing many property owners from building on their lots, despite no evidence that they bring any safety benefits or maintain high property values.

Sarasota To Reveal ‘Complete Streets’ Plan
The Florida city will make improvements on two downtown streets to make them safer and more pedestrian-friendly.

Homes Swept Into the Ocean in North Carolina—the Latest Reminder of Climate Change’s Arrival
A viral video is drawing attention to sea-level rise in one of the most at-risk shorelines in the nation: the Outer Banks in North Carolina.

NYC 25x25 Plan Would Reclaim ‘13 Central Parks’ From Cars
A plan backed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams would repurpose 25 percent of the city’s street space for multimodal transportation and pedestrian plazas.

Parks as a Weapon Against Climate Change
The 2022 ParkScore finds that cities are increasingly employing green space as a tool for mitigating heat and extreme weather effects, but the distribution of parks remains inequitable.

New Community Engagement Practices for Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan Update
A major update of Seattle’s comprehensive plan is just getting under way, with new opportunities for local groups to get involved with outreach and engagement.

New White House Housing Initiative Includes Zoning Reform Incentives
The Biden administration this morning released a new program of actions intended to spur housing construction around the United States.

House Natural Resources Committee Reveals Bribes in Trump’s Interior Department
Evidence of a 2017 quid pro quo for development permits connected to a massive master planned community proposed in the Arizona desert led the House Natural Resources Committee to take unprecedented action in 2022.

Resilience and Affordable Housing Key Topics at Florida Conference
The conference brought together local planners and policymakers to develop strategies for boosting resilience in coastal areas while maintaining affordable housing stock.

Developer Plans To Build Over 500 Housing Units on San Jose Parking Lot
A surface parking lot in San Jose could be redeveloped into a mixed-use development with housing, offices, and retail.

Planning for Congestion Relief
The third and final installment of Planetizen's examination of the role of the planning profession in both perpetuating and solving traffic congestion.

From Skates to Shelter: Shuttered Rink To Become Transitional Housing
An iconic roller skating rink, closed during the pandemic, is being transformed into a bridge housing facility for unhoused Angelenos.

Boise Launches Accessory Dwelling Unit and ‘Moveable Tiny Home’ Pilots
The city moved to loosen restrictions on accessory dwelling units and other forms of innovative housing solutions.

San Francisco ‘Slow Streets’ Face Uncertain Future
The pandemic-era ‘slow streets’ experiment has met with mixed reviews from residents, prompting the city to consider the removal or adjustment of many segments.

“Completing the Loop” Plan Wins National Award for Excellence in Sustainability
Riverlife and evolveEA were honored by the American Planning Association (APA) for the plan, which outlines a 10-year vision to connect, enhance, and expand Pittsburgh’s network of riverfront parks, trails, and public green spaces.

The New Normal: Less Transit, More Congestion
With transit systems still far below historic levels, and congestion not budging, the worst effects of an automobile dependent nation fall on the environment and low-income households.

Five Steps for Financing Urban Adaptation to Climate Change
Urban adaptation to climate change is possible. City leaders and urban researchers put together a five-step roadmap to finance the necessary investments in a recent workshop.

Why a Third of Private Garages Don’t House Cars
With curbside parking available for free in front of most American homes, residents with private garages often choose to utilize the space for household storage. Putting a price on street parking could change that.

Pittsburgh Plans Pedestrian-Friendly Makeover on Downtown Street
Pittsburgh’s Smithfield Street could gain wider sidewalks, a bike lane, and more green space.

Fire-Ravaged Paradise Plans for a Resilient Rebirth
A new urban design plan calls for a robust buffer zone to protect the town from fast-spreading fires, among other mitigation measures.
Pagination
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.
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
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Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions