The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Car Traffic

San Francisco Just Ended Single-Family Zoning

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to Tuesday to eliminate single-family zoning, but pro-development advocates say additional changes are needed to unleash a wave of construction.

June 29 - San Francisco Chronicle

A map showing the city of mesquite with surrounding freeways, roads, and cities.

Dallas-Area City Wants to Increase Minimum Home Size to 2,000 Square Feet

While some cities are finding ways to add density and use zoning as a tool for affordability, Mesquite, Texas is headed the other direction.

June 29 - The Dallas Morning News

Raleigh

Raleigh Experiencing Dramatic Growth

The North Carolina capital is reinventing itself as a research and tech hub, attracting major employers and investment along the way.

June 29 - Commercial Observer

Bus Service

Big City Transit Agencies Face Budget Shortfalls

As rainy day funds and federal aid dwindle, transit agencies formerly reliant on farebox revenue are exploring new ways to fund their operations.

June 29 - Governing

White clapboard house with For Sale sign in front yard

Price Cuts Spread to More of the U.S. Housing Market

The insanity of the housing market during the pandemic seems to have peaked in an increasing number of U.S. cities, according to recent data.

June 29 - Bloomberg


Seattle Construction

Seattle Ponders a New Approach to Zoning for its Comprehensive Plan Update

The city of Seattle will have an updated comprehensive plan by the end of 2024, with zoning changes to follow by 2025.

June 28 - The Urbanist

San Diego Harbor

Seeking Public Input to Improve and Expand Waterfront Park in San Diego

The Port of San Diego is engaging the public to gather additional feedback on the latest draft design for the National City Bayfront’s Pepper Park.

June 28 - The Log


A Gold Line AnsaldoBreda P2550 train enters Mission Station in South Pasadena on February 25, 2012.

Land Banking to Prevent Transit-Oriented Displacement in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will implement a new land banking program to mitigate gentrification and displacement around future transit lines.

June 28 - Los Angeles Daily News

Portland Bus Lane

Bus Service Cut in Portland as Driver Shortage Lingers

Like many transit agencies around the country, the regional transit agency for Portland, Oregon is struggling to attract enough bus drivers to maintain planned levels of transit service.

June 28 - TriMet

Aerial view of crosswalk with digital 'smart' crosswalk concept

Behind the Allure of the ‘Smart City’

The glamour of digital technology can obscure the hard work of building healthy, sustainable cities.

June 28 - Technology Review

Kansas City

Kansas City Pedestrian Deaths Surpassing Last Year’s Rates

The city has taken some steps to address gaps in pedestrian infrastructure, but fatalities are growing as the most disadvantaged communities continue to lack safe walking conditions.

June 28 - KCUR

Back view of delivery scooter on roadway

How Micromobility Can Improve Last-Mile Delivery

Facilitating the use of micromobility devices for the last mile of urban deliveries can reduce congestion, lower emissions, and take bigger vehicles off small neighborhood roads.

June 28 - Smart Cities Dive

Stormwater Infrastructure

State of the Cities: Mayors Focused on Infrastructure, Economic Development

Mayors around the country are pledging to bolster infrastructure projects with new federal funding, generate economic growth, and support the most vulnerable residents.

June 28 - Smart Cities Dive

Washington State

Snohomish County, Washington, Sets its Sights on Sprawl

Advocates say it’s unnecessary, but Snohomish County is preparing to expand its urban growth areas to allow for more low density residential development.

June 27 - The Urbanist

Washington

Spokane to Test Citywide Residential Density Incentives

The Spokane City Council in July will consider the "Building Opportunity and Choices for All" pilot program, which would allow new residential densities throughout the city.

June 27 - Spokane City

A view of the Pacific Ocean and California coastline from high in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Preserving More Hillside Land for Conservation and Biodiversity

The Los Angeles City Council recently approved an ordinance giving the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy first right of refusal to purchase any surplus hillside land owned by the city so it can be preserved.

June 27 - Beverly Press

Rendering of proposed Brazos Valley station

Texas Supreme Court Approves Eminent Domain for Bullet Train

In a decision that could change the calculus on a beleaguered high-speed rail project, the state’s highest court rules that the railroad has the right to acquire land along the project route.

June 27 - High Speed Rail Alliance

Utah

Shrinking Great Salt Lake Is a Ticking Time Bomb

Climate change and population growth are shrinking the Great Salt Lake. The environmental consequences are dire.

June 27 - The New York Times

Rendering of inclusive Courtney's Playground

The Importance of Inclusive Playgrounds

The first fully inclusive playground in the Antelope Valley in Los Angeles County features full, accessible rubber surfacing and activities accessible to children of all abilities.

June 27 - The Antelope Valley Times

Thermometer infront of blurred image of street during heat wave

New Tool to Understand Heat Vulnerability and Resilience in California

The California Healthy Places Index: Extreme Heat Edition is a tool which provides datasets on projected heat exposure for California, including place-based indicators measuring community conditions and sensitive populations.

June 27 - UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

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