The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p>Janice Woodcock, the executive director of the city Planning Commission, is charged with the task of updating the historic city's archaic zoning code.</p>

January 8 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

<p>In October 2005, New Yorkers were smelling pancakes all over the city; on Monday another mysterious unknown smell was being widely reported across the city.</p>

January 8 - CNN

<p>"Aqua Lodge" houseboats docked at a marina are houses according to Virginia state agencies. But they are boats according to the Tennessee manufacturer.</p>

January 8 - Richmond Times Dispatch

<p>An interview with Greenpeace USA executive director, John Passacantando on the unusually warm winter in Northeast, Exxon Mobil's funding of global warming skeptics, and the squelching of the views of U.S. government scientists on climate change.</p>

January 8 - Democracy Now

<p>Two City of Los Angeles senior traffic engineers are charged with breaking into traffic control computers and disabling traffic signals at busy Los Angeles intersections.</p>

January 8 - The Los Angeles Times

<p>Findings from a recent planning survey contradicts the plan to rebuild the community from scratch.</p>

January 8 - Associated Press via Kansas City Star

<p>Chris Williamson offers advice on how to make sure you don't confuse Census Bureau projections with actual planning.</p>

January 8 - Planning magazine, American Planning Association

FEATURE

From green building to the housing bubble, the editors of Planetizen review the most talked about stories of 2006.

January 8 - Planetizen Team

<p>Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, is widely believed to be the most expensive city in which to buy a house in eastern Europe. Prices have seen a major surge in the last few years, with some prices increasing by up to 25% in the last two months.</p>

January 8 - BBC

<p>Infamous planning opponent Randal O'Toole has begun a new blog where he argues against virtually all forms of land use and other government planning.</p>

January 8 - The Thoreau Institute

<p>A new rail line set to break ground in Salt Lake City is getting city officials excited about the prospect of increased connectivity and transit oriented development.</p>

January 7 - The Salt Lake Tribune

<p>Outgoing National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield urges adoption of tougher building codes and land use rules to avert "major disaster" in the southeast.</p>

January 7 - The Los Angeles Times

<p>While many downtowns struggle to attract residents and visitors, Madison, Wisconsin has succeeded in creating a vibrant nightlife scene, so much so, that overcrowding and alcohol-related crime have become a serious problem.</p>

January 7 - The New York Times

<p>Finalists in The History Channel's futuristic city design challenge will now present their visions to the public in an online poll to determine the grand prize winner.</p>

January 7 - Architectural Record

<p>The increasing desire for renewable energy sources as an alternative to fossil fuels has many utilities and communities looking to tap the earth's energy to power and heat homes.</p>

January 7 - International Herald Tribune

<p>The National Trust Main Street Center profiles community sustainability strategies from Seattle and other Washington State communities.</p>

January 6 - Main Street News

<p>Public libraries are increasingly being called upon to provide disaster services and support for those chronically in need, such as the homeless and seniors, yet their budgets continue to be cut.</p>

January 6 - Utne Reader

<p>Caltrain, the nation's oldest commuter rail system west of the Mississippi, unveiled a plan to electrify the line that operates 96 daily trains from San Francisco to San Jose using technology that requires changes in federal and state regulations.</p>

January 6 - Redwood City Daily News

<p>As rebuilding continues in New Orleans, many homes are being built in the floodplain without raised foundations, leading many to believe that the tough lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina have already been forgotten.</p>

January 6 - The Washington Post

<p>After several long delays, Taiwan's new Shinkansen bullet train begins commercial service, linking the island's two major cities.</p>

January 6 - Associated Press via Forbes