The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Ohio Plans for $1.3 Billion Federal Transit Investment
Ohio lawmakers say new federal funding will help the state improve public transit systems, hire more operators, and make badly needed facility and equipment upgrades.
FEATURE
Green Infrastructure Thinking for Southern Cities in 2022 and Beyond
Resilience planning requires communities to think of a well planned and maintained tree canopy as a public utility system with multiple benefits.
Challenges to Electrifying City Fleets
Shifting municipal fleets to electric vehicles poses some challenges, but cities can take steps today to prepare for an easier transition to an electric future.
Upzoning Bill Permits More Density in Honolulu
A bill that allows higher density in certain Honolulu neighborhoods could reduce the cost of development and create more affordable housing units.
Condos Racking Up Equity Faster Than Single-Family Homes in Austin
Condo value in Austin rose 28% between December 2020 and December 2021, according to a recent report.
Study: Lifetime Cost Of Small Car $689,000; Society Subsidizes 40 Percent of This
Motor vehicles are costly, and every time somebody purchases a car they expect governments to provide roads and businesses to provide parking for its use. A new study totals these costs.
Virginia Law Granting Local Authority for Energy Efficiency Rejected Due to Housing Affordability Concerns
The state preemption pendulum swings again—this time in favor of state preemption of energy efficiency standards in Virginia.
COVID Deaths: U.S. in a League of its Own
An analysis by The New York Times compares current and cumulative COVID deaths in the U.S. to other large, wealthy countries. Data analyzed include vaccination, age and obesity levels, and public trust, all factors that influence outcomes.
DARTzoom System Redesign Launched for Dallas and Surrounding Cities
The Dallas region is the latest to update its transit system on a high-frequency grid with on-demand transit service to fill in the gaps.
Development Investments Quickly Follow Gowanus Rezoning
The controversial rezoning of the Gowanus neighborhood in Brooklyn, approved by the city at the end of 2021, is already having a noticeable effect on the real estate market.
Recent Greenfield Developments Build Car Dependency in England, Report Says
The promises of politicians and developers to build more sustainably in the U.K. are going unfulfilled, according to a recent report.
PLANOPEDIA
What Is Discretionary Approval?
Discretionary approval requires an appointed or elected body of officials to decide whether or not to proceed with a development. Discretionary approval is usually reserved for development proposals that don't conform to zoning or building codes, but other regulatory triggers can also create the need for a discretionary approval process.
Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway: Governor Rejects San Antonio's Redevelopment Plan
After Texas relinquished control of state highways to cities in an effort to save money on maintenance costs, San Antonio planned an ambitious makeover of Broadway to accommodate pedestrian and bike improvements. The state won't approve it.
Silicon Valley Town Backs Off Mountain-Lions-as-Density-Deterrent
An update for Woodside's plans to avoid a state-mandated rezoning by claiming that the entire town serves as mountain lion habitat.
Grid Operator Calls for Two-Year Pause on Solar Projects, Citing Massive Backlog
The largest grid operator in the U.S. is asking for a new approvals process and two-year delay on current applications to ease the logjam of primarily solar projects in its queue.
California Court Upholds Density Bonus Law
In a rebuff to proponents of local control, a California state appeals court upheld a 1979 law that allows developers to bypass local zoning regulations when including affordable housing in their projects.
Legal Battle Heats Up Over the Form and Function of Oregon's Coasts
As Oregon's coastal beaches erode, taking valued public space with them and exposing private property to increased risks from flooding and sea-level rise, some local governments want to allow property owners the right to "armor" the coast.
HUD Credits COVID-19 Relief for Improved Homelessness Numbers
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's "2021 Annual Homeless Assessment Report" comes with significant caveats about partial data and changing homeless shelter practices.
Paris Approves First Aerial Gondola
An aerial tramway project in the French capital cleared feasibility studies and could open in 2025.
D.C.'s Ambitious Bike Infrastructure Plans
The District of Columbia plans to install ten miles of protected bike lanes this year, among other improvements including additional bike parking and more e-bikes for the Capital Bikeshare fleet.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
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.
