Residents in the greater Boise area are teaming up for a community visioning process they hope will help guide future physical and economic development in the region. It's been tried before, but organizers argue this time will be different.
"Vision for the Valley started as an editorial-page project of the Idaho Statesman but has been handed off to about 80 TreasureValley political, business and community members who formed a steering committee and 10 subcommittees addressing the economy, transportation, culture, environment and neighborhoods, and other topics.
For the first time, such a grass-roots project has embraced both Ada and Canyon counties, inviting people to explore new avenues of cooperation and craft a regional strategic plan.
Such grass-roots efforts can get results. In 2000, city leaders and a citizens group joined forces to preserve open space in the Foothills. The Boise Foothills levy - a two-year, $10 million property tax levy - received about 60 percent voter approval.
But community "visions" also can be fickle undertakings."
FULL STORY: Valley citizens drive new community problem-solving project

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

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

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

Electric Grid Capacity Could Hamstring EV Growth
Industry leaders say the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for the increased demand for power created by electric cars, data centers, and electric homes.

Texas Bill Supports Adaptive Reuse in Commercial Areas
Senate Bill 840, which was preliminarily approved by the state House, would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for offices and commercial uses.

Opinion: Make Buses More Like Sidewalks
Sidewalks are an intuitive, low-cost, and easily accessible mobility tool. Can local buses function in the same way?
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.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions