The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

North Vancouver Skips Past 'Secondary Suites,' Allows a Third 'Coach House' on Every Lot

While some cities debate secondary units and parking controversies, the city of North Vancouver is allowing three units on every single-family lot in the city—parking requirements not included.

March 7 - North Shore News

Pumping Gas

Legal Loophole Will Allow Rollback of Fuel Efficiency Standards

On Tuesday, the Trump administration anticipates unraveling two signature Obama environmental regulations: fuel efficiency standards for model year 2022-2025 light-duty vehicles and beginning the undoing of the Clean Power Plan.

March 7 - The New York Times

Charlotte Housing Development

What If We Stopped Considering Housing an Investment?

If Americans viewed housing as what it essentially is, a consumable good, solutions to our ongoing affordability crisis might just present themselves. And we'd probably loosen a lot of land use regulations.

March 7 - New York Times

Image of Chicago Lake Shore Drive Freeway

Proposal: Bury a Section of Chicago's Lake Shore Drive

In an ambitious plan dating back to the early 20th century, some Chicagoans want to build out park space over Lake Shore Drive's Oak Street S-bend. The project wouldn't be a straightforward one.

March 7 - Curbed Chicago

Los Angeles Residential Street

Los Angeles Planning Reforms Respond to Measure S

Councilmember José Huizar weighs the city's new rules against those proposed by the upcoming ballot measure.

March 7 - The Planning Report


AS Roma Stadio Olympico, Rome, Italy

Rome's Urban Planning Chief Quits in Stadium Dispute

Paolo Berdini, Rome's councilor for urban planning, has resigned from his position after clashing with the city's mayor over a new soccer stadium for AS Roma.

March 7 - Business Insider

Redevelopment

A New, Park-Filled Vision for Detroit's Waterfront

A new framework plan for Detroit's East Riverfront District will focus more on creating public spaces than a previous version of the plan. The proposed vision for the waterfront would expand Milliken State Park and create two new parks.

March 7 - Detroit Free Press


LaGuardia Airport

$32 Billion for Port Authority Capital Plan

A plan that includes improvements for LaGuardia, new rail transit and more automotive infrastructure to be completed over the next ten years.

March 7 - The Architect's Newspaper

Commuter Rail

Trumps Infrastructure Promises Might Not Include California

Electrifying Caltrain is low-hanging fruit for Infrastructure spending. Unfortunately, the fruit may spoil on the vine because the California GOP and Donald Trump have put the project on hold.

March 6 - Medium

110 Freeway

In Building Homes Near Highways, L.A. Ignores a Public Health Issue

Los Angeles seems primed for a development boom, but when developments are built near highways there can be serious health consequences.

March 6 - Los Angeles Times

Urban Target Express in Berkeley, CA

Target to Enter the Urban Market in Big Way to Boost Lagging Sales

The Minneapolis-based retailer is thinking big by betting on a small store and the urban revolution.

March 6 - Modern Cities

Los Angeles

Why Elon Musk Is Wrong about His Boring Solution to L.A.'s Traffic Congestion

Herbie Huff of the UCLA's Lewis Center and Institute of Transportation Studies pens a well-reasoned opinion for the Los Angeles Times as to why a market-based strategy to manage demand is the best approach to traffic congestion in Los Angeles.

March 6 - Los Angeles Times

Echo Park

Los Angeles County Looking for Ways to Fund Stormwater Management

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl made the announcement at the recent VerdeXchange Conference.

March 6 - The Planning Report

EPA Administrator Withdraws Methane Emissions Requirement

No surprise here. Scott Pruitt agreed with nine state attorney generals, including his replacement in Oklahoma, to reverse a request enacted by his predecessor to require oil and gas drillers to record information on the release of methane emissions.

March 6 - The Washington Post

new Mexico

FEATURE

Planners Across America: Making Albuquerque the Land of Enchantment, Not Confusion

The city of Albuquerque is focused on bringing consistency and coherence to an unwieldy collection of planning and land use regulations. An interview with Albuquerque Planning Director Suzanne Lubar explores the city's approach to the challenge.

March 6 - Josh Stephens

San Francisco

BLOG POST

S.F.'s Transbay Transit Center: Grand Central Station of the West, or Billion Dollar Bus Station?

The developers of San Francisco’s Transbay Transit Center say it has the potential to change travel patterns in the region and land use in the neighborhood, as did New York City’s Grand Central Terminal. How realistic is this promise?

March 6 - Linda Day

Pedestrian and Bike Access Included at Planned U.S.-Canada Border Crossing

A request for proposals for the planned Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Detroit to Windsor, includes a mandate to include pedestrian and bike infrastructure across the span.

March 6 - Detroit Free Press

Pedestrians

Monday Inspiration: The Best School Crossing Guard in the Business

Meet Penni Robertson, also known as America's Favorite Crossing Guard.

March 6 - Detroit Free Press

The Road to 5G Starts With Home Broadband

This year’s Mobile World Congress is all about 5G and IoT, with some handset and wearable launches. Wireless carriers and infrastructure vendors are starting to launch Gigabit broadband pilots to bring 5G class connectivity to residential users.

March 5 - Cities of the Future

Silicon Valley

California Investing In 'Transformative Climate Communities'

The California Strategic Growth Council has $140 million in cap-and-trade revenue for the new Transformative Climate Community program. The aim of the program is to catalyze environmental and economic investment in disadvantaged communities.

March 5 - The Planning Report

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