Comprehensive Plan

Historic turn of 20th century building in downtown Galveston, Texas with red streetcar passing by and large cruise ship visible in background.

A Historic Texas Beach Town Faces Existential Growth Questions

Galveston, Texas is growing — and so are questions about its land use strategy.

March 23, 2026 - Houston Chronicle

Vancouver city skyline with construction crane.

Vancouver Set to Adopt Game-changing Citywide Development Plan

To comply with new provincial law, Vancouver will adopt a new city plan aimed at guiding development for the next three decades.

February 2, 2026 - Daily Hive

Seattle skyline in low-rise area with yellow construction crane rising over buildings at dusk.

Seattle Adopts a New Growth Plan, but Major Zoning Battles are Just Beginning

Approving the comprehensive plan update is just the first step in rewriting the city’s zoning code to accommodate more density and affordable housing.

December 19, 2025 - The Urbanist

An African American gentlemen walking by the front sidewalk of suburban townhouse with cherry blossom. Colorful red siding duplex with blooming pink flower.

Seattle’s Zoning Reform Could Unlock a ‘Multiplex Boom’

A package of stackable density bonuses could make it easier for developers to build 12-plexes.

October 6, 2025 - The Urbanist

Aerial view of downtown Lexington, Kentucky.

Lexington, Kentucky Passes Urban Growth Plan

The city’s new master plan sets out requirements for mixed-use development.

November 6, 2024 - The Lexington Times

Washington state capitol dome in Olympia, Washington.

Olympia Draft Transportation Plan Zeroes in on Complete Streets, Bike Infrastructure

The city’s comprehensive plan update could signal a shift in transportation planning priorities to a more comprehensive approach that ensures safer roads for all users.

October 30, 2024 - Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater

View of downtown Dallas skyline at night with tall tower lined with green lights

ForwardDallas Lays out Bold Vision, Lacks Teeth

The land use plan outlines ambitious goals for the city’s future, but offers little in the way of concrete changes.

July 14, 2024 - Dallas Weekly

Aerial view of Juneau, Alaska town and waterfront from aerial tram.

Preserving, Restoring, and Revitalizing Juneau's Downtown

For the past six years, a commission of Juneau, Alaska, residents has examined every aspect of downtown and created Blueprint Downtown to lay the foundation for what comes in the next 20 years.

May 1, 2024 - Alaska Public Media

Aerial view of Maine harbor town with fall colors on trees.

Maine Law Promotes Smart Growth

New state legislation encourages cities to plan around ‘smart growth’ principles to preserve farmland and open space, and use infill development to build more housing.

April 17, 2024 - Maine Public

North Shore Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh To Develop Comprehensive Plan

The city voted to spend $6 million on a plan to address future development.

February 8, 2024 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Aerial view of freeway and large blue water tower with Fort Worth logo on it in Fort Worth, Texas.

Fort Worth Amends Comprehensive Plan to Reduce Industrial Zone

After residents protested the size and location of a proposed industrial growth zone, the city council voted to adopt an amended version of the plan.

November 20, 2023 - NBC Dallas

View of Brooklyn Bridge at night from Brooklyn alley with multi-story buildings and parked cars.

Can Brooklyn Change the Conversation on Comprehensive Planning in New York?

The Comprehensive Plan for Brooklyn is the largest comprehensive planning effort by land area in the U.S. since L.A. updated its plan in the 2000s, and the latest attempt to advance comprehensive planning in a city that has grown cynical about it.

November 14, 2023 - Mark H. McNulty

Mount Rainier

Opinion: Voters Deserve to See the Draft ‘One Seattle’ Plan

Despite a promise to release a draft comprehensive plan update in April and with elections in less than a week, Seattle residents are still waiting to see the city’s proposal for how to guide development in the next decades.

November 1, 2023 - The Stranger

View of green grass lawn and downtown Milwaukee skyline

Proposal Focuses on Downtown Milwaukee Revitalization

A city plan calls for reimagining an elevated freeway that cuts through downtown communities and redeveloping public properties.

April 28, 2023 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Two-way bike lane in downtown Seattle, Washington protected wtih concrete curbs

Seattle Planning Commission Urges Reimagining of the City’s Streets

In a set of recommendations submitted to the city, the commission calls for revised land use and transportation policies that reclaim public space from cars and shift focus away from vehicle throughput to more pedestrian-oriented uses.

November 7, 2022 - The Urbanist

Governors Island - South Island Rezoning

What Are Zoning Amendments?

Zoning amendments change the existing zoning code by either of two methods: changing the text of the zoning code or changing the zoning map.

September 8, 2022 - James Brasuell

Aerial view of waterfront houses in Seattle, Washington

Seattle Works To Revise Comprehensive Plan

The city has developed five concepts for updating its comprehensive plan to increase density and reverse the legacy of exclusionary zoning.

August 7, 2022 - Crosscut

Seattle

What Should the ‘Next Seattle’ Look Like?

With the city getting ready to update its comprehensive plan, one writer examines some models for improving affordability, accessibility, and community in Seattle.

July 14, 2022 - The Urbanist

Seattle Construction

Seattle Ponders a New Approach to Zoning for its Comprehensive Plan Update

The city of Seattle will have an updated comprehensive plan by the end of 2024, with zoning changes to follow by 2025.

June 28, 2022 - The Urbanist

A map showing proposed zones for future development in the city of Rochester, New York.

Rochester, New York Drafts a Zoning Map to Match its New Comprehensive Plan

The Rochester 2034 Zoning Alignment Project is implementing the award-winning Rochester 2034 Comprehensive Plan.

February 15, 2022 - WXXI News

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.