Land Use

Behind the Scenes of Los Angeles

In this travelogue, Dwell tours the often-overlooked infrastructure that keeps the metropolis of Los Angeles running.

May 10, 2008 - Dwell

New Urbanist Town Designed For Ultimate In Green Living

A planned New Urbanist development in Northern California wants enable its eventual residents to live within their prescribed ecological footprint.

May 10, 2008 - The Washington Post

Urban Agriculture Putting Down Roots In Central Cities

Urban farms are popping up in New York and elsewhere, providing residents with access to fresh, affordable produce.

May 9, 2008 - The New York Times

Major Land Deal To Protect 240,000 Acres In Southern California

The developer of the Tejon Ranch agreed to a plan to put permanent conservation easements on almost 375 square miles of ranch lands and wilderness 60 miles north of Los Angeles, in exchange for rights to develop 10 percent of its land holdings.

May 9, 2008 - The New York Times

Candidates Sit Idly While Sprawl Thrives and Cities Die

This piece from The Cleveland Free Times argues that policy can and does encourage sprawl, and none of the candidates running for president will do anything to combat these policies. Meanwhile, American cities will continue to die off.

May 9, 2008 - The Cleveland Free Times

Rise in Bikers Pushes New York Towards Cycle-Friendliness

Biking gets serious in New York, where the city is investing millions in a system of dedicated bike lanes.

May 9, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Potential Reservoir Of Urban Open Space

What do you do when 96 football fields worth of space opens up in a major metro area?

May 8, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Cracks Down On Mansionization

Despite concerns about lowering property values across the city, the L.A. City Council moved to limit the size of newly constructed homes in older neighborhoods to about 4,000 square feet.

May 7, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Why Planning is Like the Judicial System, and Why it Shouldn't Be

Planning has become too much like a court case, with two sides and one winner. According to columnist Christopher Hume, this adversarial nature must be changed.

May 7, 2008 - The Toronto Star

From Dump to Park in Cairo

Cairo's first new green space in more than 100 years has opened -- on top of a 500-year old garbage dump.

May 7, 2008 - NPR

Without Community Gardens, 'Livable City' is a Misnomer

This commentary from the Austin American Statesman argues that the city's aim to become the country's most livable city is undercut by its low number of community gardens.

May 7, 2008 - Austin American Statesman

Planners Not Wanted

One of the top political bloggers in Colorado expounds against the planning profession. He lays blame for most cities' ills at their feet.

May 7, 2008 - The Wash Park Prophet

Planning System Needs to Look at the 'Big Picture'

Officials in Melbourne, Australia, are so frustrated with the city's lackluster planning process that they are pushing for the creation of a new planning authority -- one they hope will look at the "big picture".

May 6, 2008 - The Age

Bike Lanes Become Parking Spots in New York

New York City has been expanding its stock of bicycle lanes throughout town, but as many cyclists are finding, the lanes that are supposed to be dedicated to bikes only are often overtaken by parked cars.

May 6, 2008 - The New York Times

It's Not 'Zoning', But It's Zoning

This commentary argues that, though it may not be called "zoning", Houston has plenty of land use restrictions and guidelines.

May 6, 2008 - The Houston Chronicle

Debating L.A.'s Growth, Traffic and Transit

The Transit Coalition's Bart Reed and USC planning Professor Peter Gordon debate transit and traffic in L.A. in this five-part point-counterpoint series.

May 6, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

More Fast Food Makes Fatter Neighborhoods

High rates of obesity and diabetes are being correlated to high concentrations of fast food restaurants in neighborhoods. Some look to zoning as a solution.

May 5, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Areas of Stability and Change

Two new classifications of land in Denver -- areas of change and areas of stability -- are moving the city's redevelopment and densification plans forward.

May 5, 2008 - The Rocky Mountain News

Like It or Not, Vegas is Coming Up

Despite planners' love-hate relationship with it, Las Vegas is a hotbed of great city-making, according to this post from California Planning and Development Report.

May 5, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

Hollywood High?

Developers and politicians in L.A. are stealthily moving forward with plans to build a skyscraper in the heart of Hollywood -- a 40-story project that would tower high over existing development in the area.

May 5, 2008 - LA Weekly

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.