Austin's new citywide plan is complete and could be adopted in 2006.
"If the rules work, city planners say, they will not only beautify big chain stores but also gradually change Austin's feel by adding sidewalks and shade and by better linking stores to compel more people to walk and bike.
...The plan requires all stores to have basic features such as more native plants for landscaping, more shade and less-conspicuous parking. But it is flexible, too, letting developers choose from ideas thought to create smarter design.
...The crux of the rules is a modern urban-planning idea that Austin has not embraced: that the road on which a store sits should determine how it looks. Currently, a store's look is based mostly on the zoning of its individual plot of land.
...Mixed-use buildings jibe with Envision Central Texas, the 2004 planning study embraced by city leaders that calls for denser development in some areas in an effort to curb suburban sprawl."
FULL STORY: Austin panel sees spiffier city ahead

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions