Public land is being used to solicit proposals from developers to build five new carbon neutral towns.
"Town halls and developers have been asked to bid cash for five new eco-towns where all infrastructure and houses will be carbon neutral.
The small stand-alone settlements, each containing 5,000 to 20,000 homes will be expected to have good transport links with existing towns or cities. In contrast to the high-density apartments and small units expected in other areas of the country, the new towns will have gardens, green spaces and good quality family houses rather than apartments.
They are also expected to have between 30 and 50 per cent affordable housing with a mix of private, social and rented accommodation. Within the towns, shops, primary and secondary schools will all be in walking distance in an effort to reduce carbon emisssions.
The houses will be built using timber, solar thermal panels, double glazing, insulation and biomass boilers that do not use fossil fuels."
FULL STORY: Family-friendly eco-towns to cut carbon footprint

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie