Portland is expecting 123,000 new households in the city by 2035, so it's proposed a new residential infill policy to accommodate all those people. A new report argues, however, that the policy could have a chilling effect on infill development.

"The city of Portland is considering whether to change zoning rules to create more room to build affordable housing and accommodate future growth, according to an article by Kieran Hanrahan.
"Portland’s Residential Infill Project would change residential zones that only allow single-family homes to allow duplexes and triplexes," explains Hanrahan, who also describes such housing types as the "'missing middle' between houses and large apartment buildings."
An October post by Portland for Everyone described the Residential Infill Project as a solution for the proliferation of McMansions around Portland—a very different angle than the growth concerns examined by Hanrahan's article. Along those lines, Hanrahan examines a new economic study completed by Jerry Johnson, principal of Johnson Economics. According to the study, by reducing the allowed maximum size of homes the Residential Infill Project "would make redeveloping homes less appealing to developers."
FULL STORY: Portland’s Residential Infill Project May Have Caveats

The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.

America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.

Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.

L.A. County Towns Clash Over Homelessness Policies
Local governments often come to different conclusions about how to address homelessness within their respective borders, but varying approaches only exacerbate the problem.

A Mixed-Use Vision for Houston Landfill Site
A local nonprofit is urging the city to consider adding mixed-use development to the site, which city officials plan to turn into a stormwater detention facility.

Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness
In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
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.