The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
An App for Teaching Forest Management
Augmented reality shows what the forest would look like with a full complement of biodiversity.
U.S. Becomes Net Oil Exporter, If Only Briefly
Oil independence, a goal set by President Nixon in the depth of the 1973 energy embargo, was achieved in the last week of November thanks to a fluke in record keeping as well as an "unprecedented boom in American oil production."
The Environmental and Public Health Toll of the Trump Administration
A bombshell series of stories details the environmental and health costs of many fo the Trump administration's industry friendly regulatory decisions.
Coach House: Legalize It?
Advocates in the city of Chicago are pushing to legalize Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which currently can only be rented if grandfathered in.
Critiquing the Notion of Neighborhood Character
Zócalo Public Square Editor Joe Mathews takes aim at the phrase, “We want to protect the character of the community," calling it a lousy argument in normal times and verging on "treasonous" due to climate change and California's housing crisis.
Rising Labor Costs and Higher Construction Costs for Homes
Labor costs vary greatly throughout the country, but wages are rising in the construction industry, especially in cities like San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles.
Vote for the Best and Worst of Transportation in 2018
Streetsblog USA is crowdsourcing feedback for its annual Streetsies awards for the nest and worst in transportation news.
Dollar Stores Encroach on the Grocery Business: Bad News for Public Health
Stores like Dollar General and Dollar Tree are putting a lot of grocery stores out of business, leaving communities with fewer places to buy fresh produce.
FEATURE
Most Popular Planning Articles of 2018
We crunched the numbers on all the features, blog posts, and news articles we published in 2018 to figure out which made the biggest splash with readers.
British Columbia's Climate Plan Bans Sales of Gas and Diesel Passenger Vehicles by 2040
Ten years ago, British Columbia launched North America's first carbon tax. This month, Premier John Horgan unveiled the long awaited climate plan, CleanBC, that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 2007 levels by 2030.
Zoning Changes May Be Coming to Atlanta
The city is considering zoning updates, including legalization of accessory dwelling units and smaller apartment buildings, which would increase density and provide more housing.
Exploring Options for Tucson-Phoenix Rail
Brightline, a private train operator, is an intriguing option for train service to some rail advocates.
California Pot Farms Stink (Literally), Say Neighbors
Officials overseeing cannabis implementation are having to deal with residents’ complaints that the smell from marijuana operations is overwhelming.
Op-Ed: Cities Leading the Charge to 100 Percent Clean Energy
Four mayors hammer home the point that moving to 100 percent clean energy on the municipal level is environmentally, economically, and politically desirable.
Mobility Plans and Dynamic Planning
A new survey by Governing and living Cities examines what it takes for cities to innovate.
Year in Review: The APA's Advocacy Work in Washington, D.C.
The APA noted that the 115th Congress was "marked by divisive rhetoric, partisan stalemates, and threats to programs on which local communities rely." At the end of the year, however, it could still celebrate substantial victories.
Black-White Segregation Decreasing, Slowly
Segregation is decreasing, even in America’s most segregated big cities.
Chicago Gets Federal Money for TOD Planning Efforts to Accompany Red Line Extension
The long-discussed 130th Street Red Line stop gets federal money for planning transit-oriented development to accompany the proposed new station.
Previewing NYC's Next Big Megadevelopment
Sunnyside Yard, a 180-acre railroad yard in Queens, is in the initial stages of a planning process that may eventually bring development surpassing the scale of Hudson Yards. This time, it is hoped, there will be greater focus on affordability.
In Oslo, Streets for People, Not Cars
New measures will greatly reduce vehicle traffic in the city center as Oslo moves to put pedestrians, cyclists, and air quality before cars.
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.
