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
Is Twitter Still an Effective Planning Tool?
Twitter has been a daily dose of drama and upheaval ever since Elon Musk offered to pay over $40 billion to buy the social media platform. Media outlets and public transit agencies had been abandoning the social media platform—should planners?
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.
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.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie