On an appeal by McDonald's, Ontario Municipal Board upholds city ban on drive-through restarants.
Toronto has banned drive-throughs within 30 meters of homes. This opinion piece discusses the history of this ordinance and praises the city's action."Drive-throughs first became a hot topic in November, 2001, when McDonald's announced it intended to turn its outlet at St. Clair Ave. W. and Christie St. into a drive-through. Naturally, the neighbours objected and the city swung into action, passing an interim control bylaw that prohibited drive-throughs from that part of Toronto for a year. In 2003, city council adopted a permanent bylaw banning drive-throughs. It was then appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board by the Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association, the Canadian Bankers Association and a host of other business interests, including OMERS. Late in January, however, the OMB threw out their case."
Thanks to Adam Krom
FULL STORY: For a McHappy ending: No new drive-throughs

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

Research: Walkability Linked to Improved Public Health
A study reveals that the density of city blocks is a significant factor in communities’ walkability and, subsequently, improved public health outcomes for residents.

Report Outlines Strategies for Resilient Wildfire Recovery in LA
Project Recovery offers a roadmap for rebuilding more sustainable and climate-resilient communities after wildfires and other disasters.

New Executive Order Renews Attack on Public Lands
An order issued late last week pushes for increased mineral extraction on federally owned public lands.
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.
Florida Atlantic University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Piedmont, CA
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland