Urban Development

Natural Resources Conservation Service's Wetlands Reserve Program

Bay Area Developments at Risk From Sea Level Rise

A controversial proposed housing development in Newark exemplifies the struggle between increasing housing supply and protecting vulnerable shoreline communities from flooding.

December 17, 2021 - KQED

A man pushes a snow blower to clear the ground of an outdoor parking lot filled with cars.

Toronto City Council Removes Most Minimum Parking Requirements

The parking reform movement has a major new feather in its cap: the Toronto City Council has this week adopted sweeping changes to the parking requirements of the city's zoning bylaws.

December 16, 2021 - Toronto Storeys

Utah

Utah Debates Solutions to Water Shortage

With a rapidly growing population and strained water supplies, Utah lawmakers and conservation groups debate how to best replenish the state's water sources.

December 16, 2021 - High Country News

Discovery Green and Houston skyline

Big Developments Coming to Houston Next Year

Houston residents can anticipate a slew of projects that will transform some of the city's most iconic landmarks and create new centers for work and play.

December 16, 2021 - The Houston Chronicle

Amazon Warehouse

The Impact of Amazon Warehouses on Communities

Often located in low-income communities of color, Amazon's warehouses contribute to public health impacts like poor air quality, noise pollution, and traffic congestion.

December 16, 2021 - Consumer Reports

New Orleans Freeway

How Federal Funds Can Benefit Freeway Removal Projects

The recently passed infrastructure bill dedicates $1 billion to freeway removal and capping, but the sum is only a 'first step' toward redressing the injustices perpetuated by urban highway projects.

December 16, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

New Zealand Bus Transit

New Zealand Approves Sweeping Land Use Reforms

The five largest cities in New Zealand will be zoned to allow townhouses. The latest bill continues a recent string of zoning reforms.

December 15, 2021 - Stuff

Orenco Station

Opinion: Upzoning Isn't Just for Major Streets

The practice of limiting high-density development to busy arterial streets puts renters and low-income households at higher risk for the effects of air and noise pollution created on major roads.

December 15, 2021 - Slate

Lyft

What Are Transportation Network Companies?

Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), provide on-demand transportation services through app-based platforms to create a new level of convenience for riders—and a host of challenges for policymakers and regulators.

December 14, 2021 - Diana Ionescu

A woman with a baby in a stroller and two men are milling around in front a sign that reads Austin Texas: Live Music Capital of the World.

Austin Musicians Squeezed By Housing Crisis

The Texas capital's iconic music scene could suffer as higher housing costs push musicians out of the city.

December 14, 2021 - KUT

Charlotte, NC

Major Development Projects Coming to Charlotte in 2022

Big developments are in the works for Charlotte neighborhoods from Uptown to South End.

December 14, 2021 - Axios

Suburban House

Single-Family and Build-to-Rent Homes Growing in Size

As people perform more daily functions at home, homeowners and renters are seeking larger footprints to accommodate a broader range of uses.

December 14, 2021 - GlobeSt.com

New York City Transit

Historic Preservation Appeal Could Delay Penn Station Redevelopment

New York State's Historic Preservation Office has moved to place the notorious Penn Station on the National Register of Historic Places, potentially upending redevelopment plans.

December 14, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

A block of the Bowery in New York City seen from high above, with taxis and other cars passing on the street in front of the buildings.

Conceding Density, SoHo/NoHo Rezoning Plan Clears Final Hurdles

A closely watched rezoning effort in New York City cleared a key City Council committee last week, while making some concessions from the original vision to get across the finish line.

December 13, 2021 - TheRealDeal

Aspen

Aspen Presses Pause on New Construction, Short-Term Rentals

Residents and elected officials of the famously wealthy mountain town of Aspen don't like the way the city is headed.

December 13, 2021 - The Colorado Sun

Mobile home park in Orange County, California

Seattle Weighs Protections for Mobile Home Parks

To protect a valuable source of affordable housing, Seattle's city council will consider creating a 'mobile home overlay district' that would preserve housing and regulate new development.

December 10, 2021 - The Urbanist

The top floors of a row of pre-fab apartments or condos are shown against a blue sky.

Prefab Custom Homes: Urban Multi-Family Game Changer

Steve Glenn, CEO of Plant Prefab, shares how his company is infiltrating single and multifamily housing markets with custom designed prefabricated homes to deliver healthy and sustainable buildings by design and at scale.

December 10, 2021 - The Planning Report

An overhead image of a large wooden building as it's being constructed.

What Is By-Right Development?

A by-right approval (also known as an as-of-right approval) is granted when a development proposal strictly conforms to zoning and building codes and, thus, qualifies for construction without requiring discretionary approval.

December 9, 2021 - James Brasuell

Buckhead, Atlanta

Atlanta's Buckhead Plans to Secede Over Upzoning

One Atlanta neighborhood is campaigning to secede from the city as the battle over zoning reform heats up.

December 9, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

A SunRunner bus

Double First: The First Station on Tampa Bay's First BRT Line Complete

The first of 15 bus rapid transit stations in St. Petersburg was unveiled last week.

December 8, 2021 - St. Pete Catalyst

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.