The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Philadelphia's Mayor Michael Nutter has set a policy goal of becoming the "Greenest City in America," but the city's lack of progress in reducing automobile use is a troubling obstacle to such a lofty goal.

July 7 - Next City

The successes of Arlington, Virginia as a suburb have been discussed by planners and urbanists before, but the model has taken on new meaning as the current urban boom send ripple effect out into nearby suburbs like Long Island and Palo Alto.

July 7 - Salon

Bloomberg News shares news of a report showing that the surge in shale oil production has made the United States the top oil and natural gas liquids producer in the first quarter of 2014 and discusses its impact on domestic and global oil prices.

July 7 - Bloomberg News

"Whither planning in Los Angeles?" Sam Hall Kaplan seeks to find out.

July 7 - The Planning Report

BLOG POST

Through the first six months of 2014, some Planetizen posts proved less than enticing to our readers. Instead of dwelling on that distinction as ignominious, let's consider how these neglected few might provide insight into the planning discussion.

July 7 - James Brasuell

If/Then, a new Broadway musical, describes two possible lives of a dynamic, intelligent, glamorous, detail-oriented, and somewhat wonky urban planner. The character is based on Amanda Burden, who recently-retired as New York City's planning director.

July 7 - If/Then The Musical

Phoenix's new complete streets ordinance, approved on an 8-1 vote, is a first step toward changing the city's reputation for car-centric planning.

July 6 - AZ Central

July 6, 2014 marks the one-year anniversary of North America's most catastrophic energy calamity when a runaway oil unit train carrying Bakken crude exploded in this small Quebec town killing 47 people and incinerating ten blocks of its downtown.

July 6 - NPR

Sam Lubell outlines the good and bad of recent small lot design guidelines approved by Los Angeles.

July 6 - The Architect's Newspaper

The city of Baltimore, led by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, has launched "The Baltimore City Anchor Plan"—a plan that prioritizes strategic partnerships with the city's "eds and meds" sector.

July 6 - Baltimore Sun

The city of Springdale, Arkansas is hoping to leverage plans for the Razorback Greenway into a downtown revival.

July 6 - Arkansas Business

Is Heritage Action in a state of denial? Keith Laing, The Hill's transportation reporter, reviews a recent blog from the powerful conservative group claiming that spending will decrease only 7% at most, thus no reason to increase taxes or spending.

July 5 - The Hill

After a failed attempt at similarly broad land use regulations failed in 2011, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is again undertaking an outreach process to create land use regulations along 72 miles of the Mississippi River.

July 5 - Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

A study published in Health & Place finds that those seeking good mental health well into their golden years should look to diverse neighborhoods rather than gated communities.

July 5 - Pacific Standard

Mindy Craig makes the case for an evolution in the management of parks in an era of shrinking general fund allocations.

July 5 - Parks and Recreation Business

BLOG POST

What constitutes a farmers' market, rather than an outdoor or public market?

July 5 - Lisa Feldstein

If you're obsessed with trivia and maps, prepare to lose some hours.

July 4 - CityLab

In a huge victory for fracking opponents and a major blow to the shale gas drilling industry, the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest, ruled on June 30 that municipalities can use zoning laws to enact fracking bans or moratoria.

July 4 - USA Today

In the most recent analysis to come from a bounty of data releases this week from the U.S. Census, Governing examines the growth of poverty, especially the areas where it concentrates.

July 4 - Governing

Christopher Ingraham breaks down recent data from the U.S. Census that shows which counties are getting younger and which are getting older.

July 4 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog