What happens when an affluent suburb like Scottsdale, Arizona, runs out of land?
What happens when an affluent suburb like Scottsdale, Arizona, runs out of land and faces difficult choices as its role in a booming metropolis changes? That's the question that Solimar Research Group investigated as part of "Which Way Scottsdale?", a major report from the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University that has been receiving considerable publicity in Phoenix and throughout the West. It's a cautionary tale for older suburbs all over the country -- and especially in the West: "Scottsdale is at a critical juncture in its history. The Wests Most Western Town has for thelast fifty years followed the expansive development pattern of the West and has grown andprospered with the development of suburban neighborhoods. Now that era is all but over.Scottsdale is now landlocked and nearing build-out. And it faces the challenge of finding a newmodel that will allow it to preserve what has been built in the manner to which its citizens havegrown accustomed. In this the city is of two minds: that which would put the focus on thebusiness environment and that which would concentrate on lifestyle and the natural environment.At the extremes, neither viewpoint recognizes the degree to which these two concerns aremutually dependent." Editor's note: This link is to a 2 MB PDF document.
Thanks to Paul Shigley
FULL STORY: Scottsdale in the 21st Century: Looking Beyond Suburban Growth

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?

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap
The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.

Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan
Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont