Urban Development

A bale if hay is rolled up in an expansive agricultural landscape.

Conservation Easement Program Protects 100,000 Acres of Agricultural Land in New York State

A state famous for its largest city is making a concerted effort to protect agricultural lands as part of a larger national push.

May 9, 2023 - Governor Kathy Hochul

A bike rider navigates a bike lane in a traffic limited zone in Italy, where only one delivery van is visible on the street.

A Toolkit of Urban Vehicle Access Regulations to Improve Livability

You may have heard Paris is implementing traffic restrictions, but did you know that Paris is very late to the party? European cities, big and small, have been implementing measures to keep traffic from destroying urban quality of life for decades.

May 8, 2023 - World Transport Policy and Practice

View of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte’s New Zoning Code, Set to Launch in June, Faces Tough Tests

Faced with the challenges and controversies of rapid growth, Charlotte has approved a new comprehensive plan and unified development code in recent years.

May 8, 2023 - WCNC

Clse-up of "Just Say No To Over Development" yard sign on green lawn

Thinking About Right-NIMBYism

Some conservatives oppose new housing on the ground that exclusion will “save” their neighborhoods from poor people. Is there any response to these arguments?

May 5, 2023 - Michael Lewyn

A headshot of Kea Wilson overlaid on graphics showing the name of the Planning Commission Podcast

Takin’ it to the Streets: Streetsblog USA’s Kea Wilson Chats With The Planning Commission Podcast

The Streetsblog USA Senior Editor discusses the state of transportation in America, hopes and dreams for the infrastructure bill, and how we already have the tools to address climate change and traffic safety without electric or autonomous vehicles.

May 3, 2023 - The Planning Commission Podcast

Redevelopment

Anti-Displacement Measures for Brownfield Developments

A series of reports published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Smart Growth America highlights tools and policies that can help mitigate displacement pressure when recovering and developing brownfields around the United States.

May 2, 2023 - Smart Growth America

Seattle, Washington

The City Beyond Amazon's ‘Great Return’

In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe explains how, as the Amazon (and other) “Great Returns” to the office unfold, it's essential to dig deeper.

May 2, 2023 - GeekWire

Ottawa

Ottawa’s New Transportation Master Plan Sets 20-Year Planning Priorities

Canada’s capital city recently completed the first step toward adopting a new Transportation Master Plan.

May 2, 2023 - City of Ottawa

View of Los Angeles skyline on sunny day with palm trees in foreground

Los Angeles Finalizing Three Long-Awaited Community Plan Updates

Los Angeles is poised to approve a trio of long-planned zoning code updates—for the neighborhoods of Boyle Heights, Downtown, and Hollywood—as the first test cases for a new citywide zoning code update known as re:code LA.

May 1, 2023 - Urbanize LA

A rendering shows key features of the zoning code for a mid-rise apartment building.

Boise’s New Zoning Code Cleared for City Council Approval

The Boise Planning Commission gave its approval to a new zoning code for the city of Boise. The City Council is expected to consider the draft zoning code in June.

May 1, 2023 - Boise State Public Radio

Historic Downtown Frederick Maryland sign in downtown area.

Maryland City Reveals Draft Form-Based Code

With the new zoning code, Frederick aims to shift away from use-based zoning regulations.

April 30, 2023 - City of Frededick

Sprawl

Essay: Will America Ever Change its Urban Patterns?

If there has ever been a good time to change our urban patterns, the time is now.

April 30, 2023 - Marcelo Remond

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

Aerial view of gold Colorado state capitol building with green park and city beyond

Upzoning Gutted From Colorado’s Statewide Housing Reform Effort

Colorado’s “More Homes Now” bill has been drastically reduced in scope and ambition, showing the contemporary zoning reform movement still has obstacles to overcome.

April 26, 2023 - The Colorado Sun

An image of St. Paul, Minnesota and the Mississippi River at nightfall.

St. Paul Apartment Construction Slows; Rent Control Under Scrutiny

Apartment permits declined by 48 percent in the past year in St. Paul. The city’s voters approved one of the nation’s most aggressive rent stabilization ordinances in November 2021.

April 25, 2023 - Pioneer Press

Rainbow painted crosswalk next to green painted bike lane on Seattle, Washington street

Poorly Timed Arrival for Seattle’s Long-Awaited Transportation Fee

A proposed transportation impact fee, years in the making, is stirring a controversy at a time of declining permitting and construction activity in the city of Seattle.

April 24, 2023 - The Urbanist

GIS map of Yosemite National Park

The Growing Importance of Location Intelligence

Location intelligence is transforming decision-making, with an increasing number and type of organizations modernizing operations with a geographic approach to problem-solving, planning, and prediction.

April 24, 2023 - ESRI, Inc.

Aerial view of sprawling commercial development with parts still under construction and parking lot in Goodyear, Arizona

The Tragedy of Parking

Parking minimums and other zoning laws have made American cities untenable for any other type of transportation. It’s time we find a new way to zone our cities.

April 23, 2023 - Eric Carlson

Gainesville, Florida skyline with tall water tower against cloudy sunset sky

Gainesville Reverses Zoning Reforms, Reinstates Single-Family Zoning

The Florida city will be the first in the country to rescing zoning changes that would have created opportunities for a wider variety of housing options in residential neighborhoods.

April 21, 2023 - WUFT

North High Street

Columbus Rewriting its Zoning Code

Planners in Ohio’s capital city hope a new zoning code will help reverse some of the damage done by the city’s previous zoning codes.

April 20, 2023 - Axios Columbus

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.

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.