The Queen City achieved an historic day for planning in the state of Ohio.
Cincinnati is the first city in Ohio to legalize Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) after the City Council adopted a new ordinance after a year of work of staff work and dozens of public hearings. A Tweet by Cincinnati Councilmember Mark Jeffreys, who introduced the city’s new ADU law, announced the full council’s approval of the ordinance earlier this week.
Becca Costello wrote an article explaining the details of ADUs after the ordinance passed out of committee a few days earlier in June. The article includes a soundbite from Councilmember Jeffreys explaining that ADUs will help the city relax its housing shortage and help with agining in place.
According to Costello, the new ordinance includes own-occupancy limits and qualifies for the city's recently approved tax abatement program. “The proposal is one of the first steps in land-use reform that the mayor's office and Council have been discussing since taking office over a year ago,” writes Costello.
Another article by Chris Wetterich [paywall] provided additional explanation for the law just before the full council vote.
FULL STORY: How Cincinnati's proposed 'accessory dwelling unit' housing would work
Amtrak Expanding Service in California’s Central Valley
Amtrak is planning a major expansion to the passenger rail lines connecting the Central Valley and the Bay Area.
Progressive Planning in Ideologically Conservative Communities
Planners must work in diverse political environments including conservative jurisdictions that are skeptical of new issues and perspectives. Here are ways to reconcile conflicting goals.
Lexington, Kentucky Passes Urban Growth Plan
The city’s new master plan sets out requirements for mixed-use development.
Opinion: Why Linking Driving to GDP Misses the Point
The argument that car-centric development is good because it boosts national GDP ignores the massive costs of driving to everyday Americans.
San Francisco’s BART Awarded $545 Loan for Upgraded Rail Cars
The agency plans to modernize its fleet with more efficient rail cars equipped with new safety features.
How Los Angeles County is Advancing Sustainability
A recently released report by the Chief Sustainability Office (CSO) shows that L.A. County is making progress on meeting the goals of the OurCounty Sustainability Plan.
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.
University of Southern California
City of Meridian
University of Calgary
American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
Market Building Foundation Inc
Detroit Regional Partnership