The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Proposed Boulder Food Park Faces Zoning Challenges
The proposed Boulder Food Park repurposes a decrepit site into usable space for food truck patrons. Since the site is adjacent to a brick-and-mortar restaurant, a zoning exemption may be required.
Trendy Chicago Taco Bell to Serve Alcoholic Drinks
Would you like a cerveza with that? A hip neighborhood in Chicago will play host to the first alcohol-serving Taco Bell. Isolated incident, or the future of fast food?
How Kansas City Over-Subsidized Downtown
Eager for downtown development, Kansas City signed a deal subsidizing Cordish Companies to the tune of $295 million. The rejuvenated district should be self-sustaining. So why is the city still funding Cordish?
Texas Flooding a Reminder of Lack of Climate Change Preparation
Houston headlined the news of flooding this week, but swollen rivers rushed over their banks and onto roads and into homes all over the state of Texas this week. Is the state's infrastructure resilient enough for the effects of a changing climate?
To Protect Pedestrians, Keep the Cameras
Active Transportation Alliance, a Chicago pedestrian advocacy group, urges Mayor Rahm Emanuel to improve red light cameras rather than remove them. Despite complaints from drivers, well-advertised cameras can reduce pedestrian fatalities.
Citizen Planning Academies Build Capacity for Local Planning
Citizen Planning Academies build local leadership, increase awareness, and broaden involvement through community education. CommunityMatters highlights examples of citizen academies along with five reasons to start one in your city or town.
Students Answer the Big Question: 'What Is Planning?'
Urban planning is taken for granted. Urban planning is misunderstood. Urban planning is overlooked. Urban planning is, wait … what is urban planning? Students from the University of Michigan explain.
How 'Affordance Theory' Informs Great Streets and Public Places
The affordance theory, a combination of environment psychology and art, can be tapped to help make the design of urban neighborhoods more appealing to a community, writes Phil Myrick, MIG’s head of placemaking and performance design.
Friday Fun: Can You Name These City Skylines?
Pop quiz hotshot: can you name the city by looking at silhouettes of their skylines?
Mobilizing Against Threats to American Community Survey
Rep. Ted Poe (R – Texas) has introduced legislation that would gut the reach of the American Community Survey—one of the most useful sources of information for planning research.
Environmental Criticism for the Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan
The Seattle 2035 will manage growth for one of the fastest growing cities in the country. But shouldn't it also mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions of this famously eco-conscious city?
Transportation Professionals: How Should Your 'Professional Obituary' Read?
As the debate between ‘traditional’ transportation engineering and smarter cities continues, professionals should consider by what measure of success they want to be remembered.
Grant Program Announced for Coastal Community Resilience
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced two new grant programs that focus on helping coastal communities and regions develop effective strategies to prepare for, and recover from, the effects of climate change.
How Cities Are Stopping the Blight Contagion
Every city with neighborhoods in decline and a lack of demand for new investment is faced with the challenge of how to address blight. Each city's challenges are unique, but many are finding new and effective strategies to end the spread of blight.
Does $15 an Hour Mean Higher Rents?
Los Angeles will raise its minimum wage incrementally to $15 an hour by 2020. But with an inadequate supply of new housing, will this new spending power simply enable landlords to charge more? Some economists say yes.
BLOG POST
Ask the Ethicist: Making Room in the Development Review Pipeline for Social Justice
The latest installment of Planetizen's "Ask the Ethicist" series features the advice of our resident expert: Carol D. Barrett, FAICP, author of "Everyday Ethics for Practicing Planners."
Is 2015 the Year California Increases its Gas Tax?
The stars appear to be aligning for a 10-cent gas tax hike, thanks to a $59 billion backlog in bridge and road repairs that has even influenced anti-tax Republicans. It's been 20 years since the gas tax was increased.
Federal Court: Wisconsin DOT's Traffic Projections Fail to Justify Highway Expansion
A federal court found that the Wisconsin DOT uses specious traffic projections to justify the $146 million widening of Highway 23. The state must now either perform verifiable forecasting or scrap the expansion plans.
Who Is the Smart City For?
In India, smart cities are being built with much fanfare and government support. However, critics rightfully worry that such models could end up excluding the very people who need its benefits the most.
FEATURE
Planners Across America: Dawn Warrick On Implementing Tulsa's Comprehensive Plan
In this interview for the "Planners Across America" series, Tulsa Planning Director Dawn Warrick describes the implementation process for the PlaniTulsa Comprehensive Plan.
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.
