Land Use

Connecticut Approves Statewide Zoning Reforms—Bill Awaits Governor's Signature
Advocates and political supporters are calling HB 1607 an incremental, first step, after the process of building a winning political coalition cut back some of the original ambition of the statewide zoning reform effort.

Rezoning for Governors Island Approved
A mix of new development focused on future needs and new tools for preservation are included in the rezoning package for the south end of Governors Island approved by the New York City Council in May.

What Is Multi-Family Housing?
Often discussed in contrast with single-family zoning, multi-family housing includes buildings and complexes that house more than one household in the same property.

New Park Opens as Part of Houston's Ambitious Bayou Greenways 2020 Plan
Bayou Greenways Park is part of a decade-long project building 172 miles of connected greenways around the city of Houston.

Cities Seeking '20-Minute Living'
Reducing car dependency can improve air quality, increase access to jobs and opportunities, and help cities meet emissions reduction goals.

Sweeping Residential Zoning Reform Advances in Tacoma
Zoning and land use changes proposed in the Home in Tacoma plan, an element of the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan, was approved this month by the Tacoma Planning Commission.

D.C. Tops the 2021 ParkScore List
The Trust for Public Land has published the most recent version of its annual ranking of parks and open space. A new twist for 2021includes a new metric to consider equity.

CicLAvia Helping Restaurants Keep Outdoor Dining
CicLAvia is working with the city to make its "al fresco dining" program permanent.

New Tool Demystifies Regulations Around Maryland's Purple Line
The tool aims to help stakeholders "cut through regulatory complexity" and ensure equitable access to the light rail line's economic benefits.

Proposed Bill Could Fund Redevelopment of Baltimore's 'Highway to Nowhere'
The Reconnecting Communities Act would provide funding for retrofitting highway infrastructure and reconnecting neighborhoods cut off by road projects.

The Perils of Central Planning for Parking
Donald Shoup, the author of the seminal planning book "The High Cost of Free Parking," explains how parking requirements have poisoned cities and why poor planning is to blame.

Most Questions About the Long-Term Impact of the Pandemic Still Unanswered
Planetizen started gathering articles attempting to predict the post-pandemic future in March 2020. The work goes on, with many questions left still to be answered.

On the Essential Role of Land Use in the Fight Against Climate Change
The country cannot hope to achieve its goals for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions without fundamentally rethinking its land use and development patterns, according to this article.

San Diego Residents Challenge the City's ADU Regulations
Residents in some of the city's single-family neighborhoods worry about the potential impacts of ADU construction on local character and parking.

A Daring 50-Year Vision for the San Francisco Bay Area
The SPUR Regional Strategy sets a new standard for planning advocacy, not only for the depth and breadth of its vision, but for its skill in execution.

The Parking Disaster
Minimum parking requirements, argues Michael Manville, raise the cost of construction and eat up valuable urban real estate.

Car-Free Streets Benefit Restaurants, Yelp Survey Shows
Restaurants in areas designated as "slow streets" during the pandemic saw a boost in consumer interest.

D.C. Comprehensive Plan Amendments Approved
New amendments to the D.C. Comprehensive Plan set goals for new housing development and fewer cars on the road.

A Microfarm Grows in an L.A. Front Yard
The founder of Asante Microfarm hopes his farm will serve as a model for bringing fresh produce to underserved communities.

I-10 Widening Project Continues in Texas
The current work will expand the freeway to three lanes in each direction and shift a notorious bottleneck farther west.
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