Approvals Process
600-Foot Tower Proposed for the Boston Waterfront
A proposed high-rise would transform the downtown Boston waterfront, and the city's skyline.
New U.S. DOT Policy Limits Page Length of Environmental Impact Statements
The U.S. Department of Transportation is following through President Trump's promises to ease the federal government's permitting and approvals processes for infrastructure projects.
Shelter for Detained Immigrant Children Proposed for D.C. Neighborhood
The approval of a 200-bed shelter for detained immigrant shelter will require zoning approvals from the D.C. Board of Zoning Appeals.
More Planning Staff Needed to Keep Up With the Amazon Boom in Northern Virginia
The arrival of Amazon's HQ2 facility in Northern Virginia is expected to multiply development investment in the area, requiring more planners to review project proposals.
Year One of L.A.'s 'Transit Oriented Communities Affordable Housing Incentives Program'
After one year in action, the Transit Oriented Communities Affordable Housing Incentives Program has enabled a rare feat in Los Angeles: new development.
Op-Ed: By-Right Zoning Allows Tall Buildings But Not Citizen Feedback
A local block association leader expresses frustration with the development approvals process in New York City.
Study: 'Aldermanic Privilege' Leads to Segregation
Chicago's own city government, in the form of aldermanic prerogatives and privileges, contributes to racial and economic segregation, according to a new study.
Survey: Anti-Developer Sentiment Drives Anti-Development Sentiment
All planners encounter passionate obstructionist activity at some point. While the reasoning for anti-development is often discussed, it's still not a widely understood force in the planning process and the evolution of cities.
Georgia City Decides One Approval is Enough for Some Variances
Grayson, Atlanta exemplifies the kind of administrative considerations that can make or break development approval processes.
4 Ideas for Overhauling the Los Angeles Department of City Planning
A tradition as old as the Planning Department itself: proposing reforms to the planning and development approvals process in the city of Los Angeles.
Local Preservation Board Wins Appeal in Seattle Development Battle
A development controversy in Seattle raises larger questions about land use regulation authority.
Seattle Releases App to Track Development
Into an active development environment, and the resulting heightened pitch of development controversies, comes a new app from the city of Seattle that allows the public to track development projects.
Will SF Voters Get Final Say Over Waterfront Development?
A ballot measure being proposed by the Sierra Club’s San Francisco chapter would take certain waterfront development decisions out of the hands of the city's Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, and give it to the voters.
"Now or Never" as Developers Clamor for Approvals Before Bloomberg Departs
Apparently the construction boom that's taken place over the last 12 years in New York hasn't quenched developers' appetites to build. Many are pushing to get their projects approved before the development-friendly administration leaves office.
Maryland County Seeks to Spur TODs by Fast-Tracking Approvals
Prince George's County will streamline the review process for developers who build around public transit stations, writes Miranda S. Spivack. The bill could speed up the approvals process by as much as a year.
In D.C., Nearby Projects Reveal Advantages of Effective Outreach
The divergent routes to approvals for two apartment complex developments just a mile apart show how important it is to engage both government and the surrounding community early in the process.
New York Launches Program to Speed Up Approvals
Announced this week by Deputy Mayor Robert Steel, a new program being launched by the Department of City Planning on July 2 will seek to dramatically improve the time it takes a project to traverse the city's land use approval process.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
