The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Six U.S. Cities to Workshop the Methodologies of Tactical Urbanism
Funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, a recently announced series of tactical urbanism workshops will take place in six U.S. cities.

New Jersey Gas Tax Standoff Leaves Construction Workers in the Lurch
The plight of laid-off laborers who had been repaving a New Jersey bridge illustrates that people suffer as well as infrastructure and mobility when transportation funding bills fail to pass.

Reviewing Potential Amendments to the Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan
The Seattle City Council is currently considering the Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan. The plan could change significantly from Mayor Ed Murray's proposed draft to the final, approved version.
Gentrification Concerns Sink Inclusionary Housing Development Proposal in Manhattan
Several publications were reporting the expected defeat of a proposed development project in Manhattan this week. The 15-story project was the first private application of the city's new Mandatory Inclusionary Housing policy.

Last Chance to Comment on U.S. DOT's New Performance Measurement Rule
So far the reviews have not been kind to the proposed changes to the U.S. Department of Transportation performance measurement rule. The public comment for the proposed rule closes August 20.
Could an Anti-Homelessness Program Stabilize Affordable Housing?
Periodically in the affordable housing world, a few of us acknowledge that the vast majority of low-income people live in unsubsidized rentals in one- to four-unit buildings, and we wonder how to preserve and improve those units. Here is a way.

The Car-Centric Future of Planning Data
Data collection used for planning purposes has traditionally focused on cars, rather than people. So far, innovative transportation technologies seem unconcerned with changing that pattern.

BLOG POST
The Los Angeles Mystery
A blog post exploring why Los Angeles is more car-dependent than some less dense cities.

New Report Guides Local Regulation of Drones
The National League of Cities is preparing for a future where cities will need to regulate the use of airspace by commercial drones.
Lessons From Manhattan's First 'Shared Streets' Event
New York City has several famous examples of pedestrian-only environments, but last weekend's Shared Streets event was an experiment in co-existence.

How McMansions Fail Basic Architectural Concepts
A "McMansion 101" post for those who wish to arm themselves with studied arguments against this popular style of residential construction.

Legislation Will Increase Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate in California
With comprehensive legislation to enable California to continue its powerful agenda of tackling climate change in peril, a Southern California assemblywoman will introduce legislation to tackle the specific issue of sales of electric vehicles.

Los Angeles' Purple Line Moves Past Legal Opposition
A subway extension that would cut across the Los Angeles basin has cleared another legal hurdle, despite the efforts of a coalition of opponents in the city of Beverly Hills.

When the Streets Have No Names, Three Words Will Suffice
Confronting a problem that affects roughly 75 percent of the world's population, a new system will give every place on Earth an address based on three words.

There's No App for Silver Bullets
Two planning researchers, one a professor at Tufts and another independent, make the case against apps as a panacea for urban problems.

Does Place Matter Anymore? Cities and the 2016 Election
Cities have appeared to figure very little into the presidential election up to now. To get a sense of whether this impression is accurate, I spent some time looking at the two party platforms, and the two candidate's websites.

New Levee System Protects New Jersey Residents
New Jersey Chris Christie announced the competition of a $143 million levee system in Somerset County. Gov. Christie now hopes that residents can drop flood insurance.

Coal Export Facilities Achieving Zombie Status in the Pacific Northwest
One of the Pacific Northwest's remaining coal export facility proposals was dealt what could be a final blow in state court last week. Some are describing such projects as zombies "shambling forward unaware that their heart has stopped beating…"

Does Downtown Pensacola Need More Parking? Maybe. Probably Not.
A study funded by the city of Pensacola, Florida found that the city's downtown faces a potential parking deficit in the near future, but recommends that weaning people off their cars could reduce parking demand.

Former Vancouver Mayor: Development Politics Equals 'Generational Warfare'
Former Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan put out a call to action, so to speak, in the hopes of energizing younger Canadians to respond to the entrenched interests of older generations.
Pagination
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul 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.