Newport, Rhode Island is undertaking a major planning initiative during the pandemic.
The city of Newport, Rhode Island has reached a significant benchmark with its North End Urban Plan, reports Sean Flynn, and has public hearings to discuss the plan scheduled for this month.
"NBBJ Inc., with offices in Boston, was hired in December 2019 to give the city a master plan in preparation for the development of the vacant Newport Grand site and the redesign of the Pell Bridge ramps that is expected to free up land for economic development," according to Flynn.
"NBBJ delivered two work products, the Urban Plan itself and a North End Character-Based Code, a series of zoning recommendations that were developed by its subcontractor, Code Studio, a national firm with headquarters in Austin, Texas," adds Flynn.
The public engagement process has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic (a public gathering planned for March or April was canceled), but the public has been encouraged to take an online survey to provide feedback to the city's Planning Board.
If the Planning Board approves the plan, the City Council would then undertake another round of review and public hearings. One organization, the Greening Urban Spaces Working Group of the Newport Health Equity Zone, has already criticized the plan for lack of public engagement.
FULL STORY: Newport residents will have chance to weigh in on North End Urban Plan
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.
It's Time for Public Participation to Evolve With Transportation Planning
A manifesto by planning and transportation professionals committing to hearing all voices during public engagement processes.
Planning via Zoom: Legal Scrutiny for Pandemic Realities in New York City
The question of whether a public review process conducted by Zoom is sufficient to approve a sweeping rezoning plan is a matter of no small legal concern in New York City.
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.
Tacoma Developing New Housing Policy
The city’s Home in Tacoma plan is designed to address the region’s growth and rising housing prices, but faces local backlash over density and affordability concerns.
Green Alleys: A New Paradigm for Stormwater Management
Rather than shuttling stormwater away from the city and into the ocean as quickly as possible, Los Angeles is now—slowly—moving toward a ‘city-as-sponge’ approach that would capture and reclaim more water to recharge crucial reservoirs.
Orange County Project Could Go Forward Under ‘Builder’s Remedy’
The nation’s largest home builder could receive approval for a 530-unit development under an obscure state law as the city of La Habra’s zoning laws hang in limbo after the state rejected its proposed housing plan.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
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.
