The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
FEATURE
Important Court Decision Restores Local Govt. Control on Zoning for Wireless
Robert E. Smith, AICP, explains the impact of recent court decisions on the ability of local governments to control the placement of wireless towers in their communities.
BLOG POST
Dance Your Plan
<p> Getting people to understand the intricacies of planning can be a challenge. The modern-day emphasis on public participation is an effort to get people involved, but it's frankly not too appealing for most people to attend public hearings about zoning amendments and setback changes. But those zoning amendments and setback changes could be pretty important. Planners need to try harder to connect with the people their work affects to explain its importance. It's time to break from convention. One possible way is dancing.<br />
Who Pimped the Electric Car?
Rock legend Neil Young, that's who. He's got a team of people working to turn his 1959 Lincoln Continental into the heaviest electric car on the road. Young writes in the Huffington Post about the 'Lincvolt', another electric behemoth.
Best Cities for Bicycles
Bicycling Magazine has ranked U.S. cities in terms of air quality, bike infrastructure, and the number of other bikes on the road.
Exploring Geothermal Energy in Iceland
Stephen Lacey, host of the Inside Renewable Energy podcast, went to Iceland to see firsthand the country's geothermal infrastructure. The podcast is definitely worth a listen, and can be streamed directly off of the web page.
The Power Planner
Vancouver, British Columbia's planning director, Brent Toderian, has been named on of the 50 most powerful people in the city by <em>Vancouver Magazine</em>.
Tolling Roads Could Bring Down Housing Prices
Comprehensive road pricing through tolls and congestion charges could play a major role in reducing housing prices and sprawl, according to a new study.
Stuck In Portland Without Any Groceries
The connection between land use and health comes clear in Portland, OR, where some of the poorest citizens face a four-hour round trip to the grocery store.
The Underground Railroad Bicycle Route
The Center for Minority Health and the Adventure Cycling Association partnered to create a bike trail stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to Ontario. The trail was recognized at the 19th Annual Trails Symposium.
Mall Restaurants Foresee Bleak Christmas
With sales down at local malls and retail centers and projected at record lows for the holiday season as households curtail spending, restaurants that rely on retail traffic are preparing for losses.
D.C., Beyond the Iconic
Beyond the columns and the Capitol, Washington D.C. contains a wide variety of architectural gems and underappreciated neighborhoods, according to this Q&A about the city from <em>Dwell</em>.
A Look At Big Box Reuse
This slideshow from <em>Slate</em> looks at how to reuse abandoned big boxes.
Best Cities To Live In When The Peak Oil Crisis Hits
Common Current recently released a report ranking U.S. cities on their ability to deal with a peak oil crisis. San Francisco comes out on top and Oklahoma City ranks last.
How Much Does Bad Air In LA and Central Valley Cost California?
An economic study has been published showing that the costs of air pollution to the 20 million Californians living in the state’s (and nation’s) two most polluted regions, the LA basin and San Joaquin Valley, to be around $28 billion annually.
Preserving and Reusing Boston's Architectural Infrastructure
This article looks at some adaptive reuse projects that successfully preserve the beauty of Boston's late-nineteenth century infrastructure.
Pricing Parking at a Premium
On Tuesday, San Francisco's MUNI approved a pilot program to price 6,000 of the city's parking spots according to popularity.
Despite Lower Gas Prices, Americans Driving Less
According to the Federal Highway Administration, the number of miles driven in the U.S. declined by 4.4% since last year.
TOD Down Under
Transit-oriented development is catching on in Australia, as several projects spring up around Brisbane. The article is accompanied by a photo gallery of recent developments.
Mike Davis Says Green Revolution Should Take a Backseat
A lot of pundits have been seeing in the Obama presidency a chance to invest large amounts of federal dollars on green infrastructure. Not yet, argues Mike Davis.
Would $3 Gas Balance California's Budget?
Energy expert Severin Borenstein suggests a novel strategy to ensure California drivers don't lose their gas-saving habits and vehicle preferences learned when gas cost $4.50/gallon - a 'variable gas surcharge' to stabilize gas prices at $3/gallon.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.
