After receiving scathing reviews about the frustrations and inefficiencies of its site review process, Austin has contracted with McKinsey to begin the work of overhauling the process.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is prioritizing an overhaul of the city’s site review process, after receiving scathing reviews from a recent analysis by the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Co.
After surveying customers completing the site review process, as well as 150 city employees working in the 11 departments involved in the site review process, “found only 1% of respondents were satisfied with the process,” according to a paywalled article by Mike Christen for the Austin Business Journal.
Non-paywalled reporting on Mayor Watson’s response to the analysis is available in an article published by the Real Deal. Mayor Watson is quoted connecting the frustrations and the inefficiencies of the city’s site review process to the increasingly unaffordable hosing market in the city.
The Austin City Council subsequently voted on Thursday, August 31 to spend $2.5 million to hire McKinsey & Co. on a six-month contract to improve the site review process, as reported in a separate paywalled article by Christen (source article below)
FULL STORY: Austin taps McKinsey to improve site plan review process

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

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and harrowing close calls are a growing reality.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)