The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Free From AARP: Walk Audit Tool Kit and Worksheets
AARP recently published an all new, 28-page, image-filled guide—and 11 downloadable worksheets—for how to assess and report on the safety and walkability of a street, intersection, or neighborhood.

Hollywood-Burbank Airport’s Replacement Terminal Project Moves Forward
Bud Ovrom, one of Burbank’s Commissioners on the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, gives an update on the Airport’s capital improvement plans. Ovrom also opines on the challenges of federal preemption over air transport in Los Angeles.

How Does Freight Fit Into Complete Streets?
As home delivery of everything from groceries to furniture becomes more popular, policymakers must evaluate how to keep streets safe and accessible for pedestrians and other vulnerable users.

Fifty Years After the Clean Water Act, Half of U.S. Waters Are Unsafe for Humans and Fish
A study of U.S. waterways shows that around half of lakes, rivers, and streams in the U.S. are too toxic to swim or fish in.

10 Real Estate Markets That Could Soon Resemble San Francisco
The housing prices that define the most expensive metropolitan areas in the country—think San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles—have gone national.

A Land Use and Development Playbook For Value-Capture and Creating Currency For Local Community Development
Larry Kosmont shares what cities need to do to meet escalating state requirements; add housing density; fix shopping centers; replace sales tax; pay for constituent services; plan for the future; and capture value created by economic restructuring.

'Tiny Home Village' Fires Raise Doubts About Their Sustainability
'Tiny home villages' were touted as a quick, if temporary, solution to California's housing crisis, but a series of fires is raising concern about their safety.

BLOG POST
Smarter Planning for Rural Communities
Many rural communities face growing demographic and economic challenges. Smart planning can help anticipate and respond to these problems, allowing communities to take control of their destinies.

Colorado Legislature Approves 'Idaho Stop' Bill
Pending Gov. Polis's signature on a bill approved recently by the Colorado State Legislature, Colorado will become the latest state to allow people on bikes to yield at stop signs.

Houston Plans for More Bus Rapid Transit
The city's transit agency hopes a more comprehensive and connected rapid transit network will encourage more Houstonians to use buses.

Multigenerational Households Increasingly Common in the U.S.
More American adults are living with parents or relatives, largely due to financial reasons.

Assessing California's Homekey Program
The innovative housing program launched during the pandemic has made a significant difference for unhoused individuals, but long-term support remains underfunded.

Outdated Electric Grid Could Hamper Texas Transition to Renewables
Although Texas easily has the potential to phase out coal with the renewable energy projects in the works around the state, its aging transmission lines and outdated infrastructure could delay the transition.

D.C. Could Expand Traffic Camera Program
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser wants to add hundreds of new traffic enforcement cameras to stem the city's rising rate of traffic fatalities.

BLOG POST
The Political Compass of Housing and Urbanism
The "political compass" idea can easily be applied to explain differing philosophies about urban development.

2021 U.S. Population Growth Slows to Unprecedented Rate
The nation's three largest cities lost a combined 700,000 residents between July 2020 and July 2021—the fastest growing regions in the country couldn't keep up. The new data is being framed in the media as evidence of the decline of cities.

How a Feminist Perspective Can Make Cities Better for Everyone
An argument for embedding a feminist analysis into planning practice.

PLANOPEDIA
What Is a Density Bonus?
A density bonus offers development permissions beyond what's allowed by a zoning code as an incentive for developers to contribute to desired policy goals. Density bonus programs can offer numerous forms of incentives, and can be used as an incentive to address a variety of policy goals.

FEMA Flood Mitigation Initiative Will Pay Homeowners To Move
The Swift Current grant program will distribute $60 million to homeowners in high-risk counties to help pay for flood mitigation measures or relocation.

Transit Use Down, Remote Work Up in Seattle
Fewer workers in downtown Seattle are taking public transit to work thanks in large part to an ongoing move to remote work.
Pagination
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
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.