Comprehensive Plans

New York Historic map

New York City Aims for Comprehensive Long-Range Planning

The city's proposed comprehensive planning bill could create a more equitable and collaborative planning process

March 4, 2021 - Gotham Gazette

BLM Plaza, Washington, D.C.

Comprehensive Plan Update Stokes Controversy in D.C.

Complex political dynamics are mustering for a showdown over D.C.'s comprehensive plan.

March 3, 2021 - The Washington Post

Compton, California

What Is a Specific Plan?

Specific Plans are unique to the state of California, but come up frequently in media coverage of planning. Understanding the purpose of Specific Plans can also open a window to understanding of how planning works all over the country.

October 16, 2020 - James Brasuell

Plano DART

The Day after Plano Tomorrow

Planners in Plano, Texas are ready to pick up the pieces and move on from the demise of the Plano Tomorrow comprehensive plan.

August 14, 2020 - The Dallas Morning News

Texas

Legal Challenge Brings Down the Plano Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan

Plano Tomorrow, a comprehensive approved in 2015, has been rescinded and replaced with the city's previous master plan, approved in 1986.

August 5, 2020 - The Dallas Morning News

New York City

New York Updating its Comprehensive Waterfront Plan

Vision 2030 will update the award winning Vision 2020 New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

August 2, 2020 - NYC Planning

Beltway Traffic

Car-Centric Choices Shortchange the Walkability Goals of the 2010 Tysons Comp Plan

Ten years after Tysons, an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, approved an award winning comprehensive plan, there's still work to be done to achieve its ambitious goals.

July 21, 2020 - The Washington Post

Washington D.C.

D.C. Comp Plan Update Includes 'Gentle Density' in Single-Family Residential Neighborhoods

A lot of long-term planning is underway in Washington, D.C.

April 29, 2020 - Urban Turf

D.C. Comp Plan

What Is a Comprehensive Plan?

The comprehensive plan, sometimes also referred to as a master plan or a general plan, is the foundational document of long-term planning and zoning in the United States.

March 9, 2020 - James Brasuell

Capitol Hill DC

How D.C.'s Comprehensive Plan May Change

Along with a commitment to produce more affordable housing, Washington D.C. is making general amendments to its Comprehensive Plan. The result may be more "honesty" and nuance around housing.

November 7, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Colorado

Rapid Growth and a Small Town Recall Effort

A group of organizers in the small town of Elizabeth, Colorado (population 1,700) wants to recall its entire City Council as an act of defiance in the face of rapid change and growth.

October 8, 2019 - The Denver Post

St. Paul Comprehensive Plan

St. Paul's 20-Year Comp Plan Heads for the Final Stretch

The St. Paul 2040 Comprehensive Plan aims for missing middle density at 56 "Neighborhood Nodes" around the city.

June 16, 2019 - Pioneer Press

Downtown Minneapolis Streetscape

Tempering the Expectations for the Minneapolis 2040 Plan

The ability of the landmark Minneapolis 2040 plan, which adds density in various forms all over the city, to solve the cities climbing housing prices and growing lack of affordable housing, might have been exaggerated.

June 7, 2019 - MinnPost

Denver Light Rail

What Denver's Big 2040 Comprehensive Plan Means for 2019

Important distinctions about the difference between a comprehensive plan and zoning code changes, as well as details of the form-based influences of the new Denveright 2040 plan are reported here.

April 30, 2019 - The Denver Post

Denver Skyline

New 20-Year Comprehensive Plan, and More, Approved for Denver

Two big pieces of the Denveright planning process, the Comprehensive Plan 2040 and Blueprint Denver, won approval from the Denver City Council earlier this week.

April 23, 2019 - The Denver Post

Transit Oriented Development

Everywhere, Signs of Demise for the Planning Status Quo

The plans, they are a-changin.

February 25, 2019 - James Brasuell

St. Paul Minnesota

Affordable Housing Advocacy Efforts Taking Root in St. Paul

St. Paul, Minnesota, is working on its comprehensive plan, and advocates want to see upzoning changes similar to what happened in Minneapolis.

January 10, 2019 - Star Tribune

Stone Arch Bridge

Putting a Bow on Top of the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan

The City Council overcame a last minute legal challenge to approve the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan late last week.

December 10, 2018 - Star Tribune

Compass Columbia comprehensive plan

Getting Started on Inclusive Planning

A toolbox for local governments to address inequality.

November 29, 2018 - Nate Baker

Minneapolis Stone Arch Bridge

Minneapolis 2040 Expected to Pass After Adjustments

One of the most ambitious comprehensive plans of a major city in the United States is headed to approval, after amendments and compromises garnered the necessary political support among city councilmembers.

November 25, 2018 - Star Tribune

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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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.