Are stream buffers effective or is Fairfax County, VA, using environmental ordinances to slow development?
"The unhappiness of some of the affected landowners highlights the difficulties localities face in protecting environmentally sensitive but privately owned land. Fairfax officials say that the specially designated areas are necessary to preserve the region's water quality and that the new buffers are required by recent revisions to a state law intended to protect Chesapeake Bay tributaries.But building industry representatives say the county's ordinance would go further than the state requires. They note that Fairfax is choosing to start the 100-foot buffer at the edge of a stream's banks, rather than at the high water mark. State law lets localities decide where to start measuring. As a result, some developers question whether the county is using environmental ordinances to slow development."
Thanks to C. P. Zilliacus
FULL STORY: Buffers' Impact Feared
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
L.A. County Towns Clash Over Homelessness Policies
Local governments often come to different conclusions about how to address homelessness within their respective borders, but varying approaches only exacerbate the problem.
A Mixed-Use Vision for Houston Landfill Site
A local nonprofit is urging the city to consider adding mixed-use development to the site, which city officials plan to turn into a stormwater detention facility.
Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness
In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
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.
