Texas
A Champion For Planning In North Texas
Fernando Costa, the director of planning for Fort Worth, Texas, has won praise from residents with his common sense and consensus building approach to planning in this fast growing region.
Does The Trans-Texas Corridor Have A Future?
Plans for the construction of several mega-highway and rail corridors across Texas are facing growing opposition.
Proposed Legislation Helps Manage Expected Growth Around Austin
Special districts would allow cities and counties in Central Texas to impose development rules and collect sales and property taxes to pay for roads, streets and utility improvements without requiring immediate provision of city services.
Austin Permitting System Goes Online
Developers, neighborhood leaders and all interested parties will be able to track project approvals at every stage of the process.
State Legislator Trying To Overturn Austin 'McMansion' Ordinance
A State legislature is proposing a bill that would essentially gut Austin's recently passed 'McMansion' ordinance.
The Invisible Problem Of Suburban Homelessness
This article from the Houston Press looks at the issue of homelessness in nearby suburban Fort Bend County, a problem many public officials deny.
Texas Counties Cooperate For Aerial Photography Project
In an effort to improve the accuracy of property information, 13 counties in North Central Texas have initiated an aerial photography project to document the land. Many hope the publicly available project will improve property appraisals.
Texans Wrangle With Wildlife In Sprawling Suburbs
Increasing conflicts between suburbanites and wild critters battling for habitat prompts urban biologists to find solutions for coyotes, racoons, and feral pigs.
Mall Plans Incite Protesters In Austin
As plans to develop a Wal-Mart and a shopping mall draw thousands of protesters in Austin, Texas, the public seems to be demanding a new kind of development.
Houston Plans Citywide Wi-Fi Network
The city of Houston is looking to create a wi-fi wireless Internet access network that covers the entire city. If approved, this would be the largest citywide wi-fi network in North America.
Central Austin Zones For Vertical Mixed Use
To encourage development that is consistent with the city's vision for sustainable development, planners have created a new zoning designation that looks like a win-win for developers and neighborhoods -- if they can stand the density.
Austin Tries A Waterfront High Rise (Again)
In a rerun of a failed 1999 plan to build a high-rise near the city's Town Lake, officials in Austin, Texas, are looking to increase downtown density. The City is hoping this try works, but the original plan's opponents are still opposed.
Growth Means More Seats In House For Texas
According to Census data and growth projections, Texas appears to be on track to gain between two and four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives when the seats are reallocated in 2010. The rise in population will also increase federal funding.
Austin Grapples With Downtown Height Limits
Developers in the city's booming downtown are pushing to change the rules originally enacted to preserve view corridors to the Texas State Capitol Dome.
Urban Village To Rise On Stadium Grounds
Forest City Enterprises has put forth a proposal to bring a major mixed-use urban infill community to Dallas-Ft. Worth on the grounds of Texas Stadium.
Homestead Preservation District Could Soften The Blow Of Gentrification
With its downtown booming, Austin, Texas is trying to help homeowners who are feeling the squeeze from rising property values -- by buying their land.
Using YouTube As A Planning Advocacy Tool
Advocates for the preservation of historic homes in Houston's 6th ward, east of downtown, have posted video testimonials on the Web to help gain support for their cause.
Austin Hopes For Consensus Plan Around Downtown Redevelopment
With a flurry of residential and mixed-use development planned for the city's downtown, local officials hope to create a comprehensive vision that all stakeholders in the area can support.
Houston Needs Flexibility, Not Rules
Houston leaders need to be cautious that their 'plans' for the city don't stifle its greatest asset -- its economic opportunity and quality of life -- by introducing prescriptive land use zoning.
Veiled Racism Or Just A Property Rights Feud?
Some residents believe plans to build a mosque in their neighborhood would bring down property values.
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.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association
