Mark Winne makes the case for how the production, distribution and consumption of food is an urban planning issue, citing Hartford's recent local and regional food planning efforts as a model.
Mark Winne writes about the implications that food systems have on housing, economic development, transportation, and vice versa. He uses various state, regional and local planning efforts in Hartford, CT to illustrate how planners are making an impact on food systems in cities. He reports that all over the country, several state and local food planning councils are in the early stages of development. He writes: "While its limitations are many and its history short, food system planning and its most common vehicle, food policy councils, are rapidly emerging in response to an ever expanding agenda of food, agriculture and nutrition concerns."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: Food System Planning: Setting the Community’s Table

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

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.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
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Study: Larger Vehicles Lead to More Congestion
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Connecticut Assembly to Reconsider TOD Bill
The ‘Work, Live, Ride’ bill would prioritize funding for designated transit-oriented zones to encourage denser development near transit.

New Jersey Affordable Housing Law Turns 50
The Mount Laurel Doctrine tasks each city and town with creating enough affordable housing to meet their needs, but half a century after its passage, the law still faces opposition in some parts of the state.
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