The Salt Lake City Planning Commission has approved a controversial plan to build a sky bridge for pedestrians as part of a new mixed use development.
"By a 6-3 vote Wednesday, the commission forwarded a positive recommendation to the City Council for a sky bridge to span Main Street at 50 South. But instead of selling the air rights above Main, the commission recommended a lease to be tied to the life of the LDS Church's 25-acre retail and residential project."
"In a separate vote, the commission unanimously approved the overall site plan for City Creek, scheduled for completion in late 2011."
"Debate raged more than four hours before the approval, which comes with a series of amendments for the City Council to consider before taking the ultimate vote. Planners want the council to consider the degree of transparency on the glass for the 130-foot bridge. Right now, the design calls for etched grass on the sides to resemble foliage by the side of a creek. The skywalk, which has escalators to the street on each end, also has glass panels that open above-head and completely clear glass in the center to provide optimum views."
"Even so, commissioners argued about a 'conundrum' - that is, voting on language drafted by the City Council with built-in 'contradictions.' How can there be minimal interruption to the view corridor, for instance, when the sky bridge includes architectural and artistic elements? What's more, the commission struggled with the notion that retail accessibility be maximized - essentially through a pedestrian bridge - while the vibrancy of the street life be maintained."
FULL STORY: Sky bridge on SLC's Main Street gets planning commission's blessing

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians
Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie