A recent debate in Washington, D.C. echoed common concerns about the planning process in cities around the country.

Greater Greater Washington's David Whitehead reports on the frustrations aired at a recent oversight hearing for D.C.'s Office of Planning and Office of Zoning.
Criticism from both residents and councilmembers was wide-ranging—encompassing the planning process, the content of planning decisions, and the implementation of plans. The Office of Zoning was called a "rubber stamp machine" for its high rate of approved variance requests, while one councilmember suggested that the DC Comprehensive Plan was out of touch with priorities like affordability and displacement. Much of the meeting focused on new amendments to that plan's Framework Element, prepared by the Office of Planning.
Whitehead provides further detail and context in his piece, with the takeaway that what the public wants from planners is "more clarity, more trust, and simply more planning."
FULL STORY: “Who is steering the ship?” The DC Council debates planning and zoning for six hours

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont