The military presence in Afghanistan is expanding at a rapid pace, creating a military sprawl.
"But if the situation for ordinary Afghans is worsening, the machinery and industry of NATO's presence in their country is thriving. As I arrived at Kandahar Air Field this week for my second reporting stint in Afghanistan, I was struck by just how comfortably the West is settling in here. The NATO base, which grew from the rubble of the old Kandahar airport after the first round of fighting ended seven years ago, was a wonder even when I was here last, in spring 2007. Housing about 5,000 troops from several different nations, it had a sophisticated electricity system, fast-food outlets, cement plants and steak-and-lobster nights."
"The complex known simply as KAF has only multiplied since then."
"Like urban sprawl, new barracks have appeared on land I last saw being cleared of mines."
FULL STORY: Tom Blackwell in Kandahar: Urban sprawl behind the barricades
Mock Afghan City Helps Train Civilians
For more than 1,000 U.S. civilians being sent to Afghanistan to aid the nation's political and economic recovery, training starts in a small Indiana city where the Army and National Guard have built a mock Afghan city complex.
Density and Disorder: The Imaginary Link
A recent article tries to tie public transit and walkability to social disorder — but in fact, sprawling Sunbelt cities like Memphis are as likely to have high crime rates as transit-rich metropolises such as New York and San Francisco.
How Autonomous Cars Can Induce Sprawl and Sabotage Climate Goals
Robotaxis can lead to longer, more frequent trips and are projected to increase VMT by as much as 83 percent.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
Detroit Transit Agency Requests $20M Budget Increase
The Detroit Department of Transportation wants to boost ridership by hiring more drivers, buying new buses, and enhancing station infrastructure.
California Bill Aims to Boost TOD
A bill proposed by Sen. Scott Wiener would exempt transit agencies from zoning rules near ‘high-quality’ transit stops and allow denser transit-oriented development.
Report: One-Fifth of Seattle Households Are Car-Free
According to one local writer, the city’s low rate of car ownership should encourage officials to support public transit and reduce parking minimums.
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
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