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

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

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

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

San Francisco Opens Park on Former Great Highway
The Sunset Dunes park’s grand opening attracted both fans and detractors.

Oregon Legislature to Consider Transit Funding Laws
One proposal would increase the state’s payroll tax by .08% to fund transit agencies and expand service.

Housing Vouchers as a Key Piece of Houston’s Housing Strategy
The Houston Housing Authority supports 19,000 households through the housing voucher program.
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.
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