Cautiously at first, grant program steps toward big investment shift to "Cool Cities."
Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm is attempting through her new Cool City Pilot Program to do the same thing in Michigan that Maryland Governor Parris Glendening did in 1997 when he passed the state Smart Growth Act. The Maryland planning and public investment law redirected much of the states budget for roads, schools, public works and buildings, housing, and other new construction back toward urban centers. Mr. Glendenings program helped Maryland achieve one of the highest levels of economic growth of any state in the nation while conserving thousands of acres of farmland and forest and strengthening economic development in Baltimore. Mr. Glendening, by the way, easily won a second term.
Thanks to Keith Schneider
FULL STORY: Granholm's Urban Therapy
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Colorado Bill Would Tie Transportation Funding to TOD
The proposed law would require cities to meet certain housing targets near transit or risk losing access to a key state highway fund.
Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs
Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.
