Land Use

A typical American shopping center, with a thrift store at one end and a parking lot full of cars.

One Maryland Thrift Store: 40 Pages of Zoning Documentation

A writer for Strong Towns offers a case study of "the byzantine development process" of many municipalities in the United States.

March 17, 2022 - Strong Towns

Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge

Mapping Biodiversity Risk

A partnership of researchers has created the most detailed map yet of the places where biodiversity is most at risk in the United States.

March 17, 2022 - The New York Times

California Wildfire

Housing Affordability and Worsening Wildfires: Twin Crises

As wildfires grow more destructive, how far should states go to protect homes located in high-risk areas?

March 17, 2022 - The Atlantic

gaslamp Quarter

'Homes for All of Us' Initiative Eases San Diego Building Restrictions

The ordinance, which allows lot splitting and eases permitting for accessory dwelling units, is an effort to boost housing affordability.

March 16, 2022 - CBS 8 San Diego

Wastewater California

What Is CEQA?

Designed to assess the environmental impacts of new projects and provide mitigation measures, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) has a controversial history, sometimes serving as a convenient tool for groups intent on stopping or slowing development.

March 16, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Economic Recovery Plan

Portland Extends Pandemic Public Space Programs

PBOT will continue two highly successful COVID-era programs that allowed businesses and community groups to repurpose public spaces for pedestrian-oriented uses and engage with customers in safe, accessible outdoor settings.

March 16, 2022 - City of Portland

Domino Park

Reimagining Public Space in the Post-COVID Era

The pandemic forced a large-scale reexamination of how public spaces and urban form impact public health and equity. Now, policymakers can learn from those innovations to plan for the future of cities.

March 16, 2022 - Next City

The skyline of downtown Worcester, Massachusetts reveals urban densities and variety of building types.

Citywide Master Planning Process Launched in Worcester

The Massachusetts college town, with 200,000 residents, is kicking off the Worcester Now / Next long-range plan with a series of public engagement activities.

March 16, 2022 - Mass Live

Mountain Lion

Opinion: Conservation and Affordable Housing Can Coexist

Encouraging denser development in urbanized areas is an effective way to protect sensitive flora and fauna from human encroachment.

March 15, 2022 - Ventura County Star

British Columbia

Vancouver Set To Finalize Broadway Rezoning Plan

A plan to increase density along the city's 'Second Downtown' promises to bring badly needed housing to the corridor as the Broadway subway line nears completion.

March 15, 2022 - Vancouver Sun

UC Berkeley and North Berkeley

Berkeley's Black Churches To Build Affordable Housing

Historically Black churches will use their property to build affordable housing aimed at seniors and other residents being priced out of their neighborhoods.

March 15, 2022 - Berkeleyside

Vacant Lot

The Importance of Unintentional Nature in Cities

A new book argues in favor of spontaneous, informal natural spaces.

March 14, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Pedestrians and Cars

Traffic Deaths in Cities and Suburbs, a 2020s Update

Traditionally, many cities have had lower car crash death rates than suburbs. But is this still the case?

March 14, 2022 - Michael Lewyn

Peachtree Street Atlanta

Atlanta To Nix Peachtree Pedestrian Project

Rather than committing to a new direction for urban design, Atlanta is backpedaling on a 'people-friendly' makeover on three blocks of Peachtree Street.

March 14, 2022 - Urbanize Atlanta

NIMBY Sign

What Is a NIMBY?

One of the most politically charged and controversial terms in planning, the acronym NIMBY stands for Not In My Back Yard.

March 14, 2022 - James Brasuell

A view up Santa Fe Drive in Denver. Stores and construction are visible along the street, and Downtown Denver looms in the background.

Denver Wants Ground Floor Retail, Sidewalk Extensions to Achieve Main Street 'Vibe'

The Arts District on Santa Fe Drive is considered one of Denver's final frontiers for revitalization. Local stakeholders are targeting zoning changes as a potential solution.

March 13, 2022 - The Denver Post

Rendering of Arverne East development

Net Zero Development Coming to New York City

The project, which relies largely on geothermal energy to minimize its carbon footprint, will bring affordable housing and boost storm resilience to an area devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

March 11, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Interstate 635

Dallas Neighborhoods Fight Toxic Zoning

Communities in south and west Dallas are working to introduce zoning reform that would reduce industrial pollution and hold companies accountable for their impacts on surrounding neighborhoods.

March 10, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Vancouver Al Fresco

Where Urban Design And Public Health Intersect

As the pandemic emphasized, the way we design our cities can have lasting impacts on residents' health and wellness.

March 10, 2022 - Governing

Rocky Mountains

How Zoning Reform Could Ease Montana's Housing Crunch

A new report recommends increased production of 'missing middle housing' in Montana, which, like other Western states, is experiencing rapid growth and an increasingly tight housing market.

March 8, 2022 - Daily Inter Lake

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.

Comprehensive Bikeway Design Workshop

Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University

Early Bird Deadline – save on your tuition fee!🚨

Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)

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.