Land Use

Fifty Criteria to Rate Smart Growth Developments

Atlanta's Livable Communities Coalition has begun scoring development projects on 50 smart growth criteria and has recommended approval of its first project, a mixed-use development in Cobb County.

April 1, 2008 - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Philly's Planning Process Revamp Moving Ahead Slowly

With a growing consensus for change, the challenge for the Philadelphia's leaders now is figuring out how to actually fix the city's planning and zoning system.

April 1, 2008 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Building in the Danger Zone

This article from Next American City looks at the new land use ideas that are guiding development in disaster-prone areas.

April 1, 2008 - The Next American City

The Burn and the Boom of Climate Change in Alaska

Climate change will probably be pretty devastating for coastal Alaska, but it could also bring a boom to the area's economy, according to a recent report.

March 31, 2008 - Juneau Empire

Designing Public Places in D.C.

Redevelopment plans for Washington D.C. highlight the increased emphasis on public spaces.

March 31, 2008 - The Washington Post

Tribe Plans Wind Power Plant in Arizona

The Navajo Nation has announced plans to build wind turbines and generate electricity in the windy high mesas of Northern Arizona.

March 31, 2008 - The Arizona Republic

Embracing Alleys in San Francisco

Alleys are a major part of the character of San Francisco, and many parts of the city are trying to embrace these unique aspects of the urban makeup.

March 31, 2008 - The New York Times

The Densest Cities in America

The blog post features a list of the top five densest cities in America, and looks at the conditions that have made them that way.

March 31, 2008 - Environmental Graffiti

Calling for Statewide TOD in New Jersey

This editorial calls on the state of New Jersey to take advantage of the fact that it has one of the country's largest mass transit network and to better site homes and development near transit.

March 30, 2008 - The Times (New Jersey)

Funding Bureaucracy Highlights L.A.'s Parks Deficit

The city of Los Angeles is currently sitting on more than $130 million dollars intended to build parks. But those funds are tied to council districts high in development, leaving districts with little development high and dry.

March 30, 2008 - LA Weekly

San Francisco's New PD Talks About City's Challenges

Architect Magazine talks with San Francisco's new planning director, John Rahaim, about the urban planning challenges and issues in the city.

March 29, 2008 - Architect Magazine

The New Global Warming Pariahs - Pushing Adaptation and Land Use Changes

Is CO2 buildup responsible for the enormous hurricane damage, or is it overdevelopment? Should we be spending so much attempting to reduce carbon emissions, or could it be better spent reducing problems that will be exacerbated by global warming?

March 29, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

A Rerun In The Campaign For Mayor Of L.A.

Twenty years ago, Los Angeles voters chose Tom Bradley's "world city" vision over a slow-growth councilman's carping about overdevelopment. Voters may face the same choice - and one of the same candidates - in 2009.

March 28, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

New Bike Lanes Proposed in San Francisco

Officials in San Francisco are floating a plan that would add 34 more miles of bike lanes to the city, nearly doubling its current stock. The addition would require the removal of street parking and could take over some traffic lanes.

March 27, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Funding Remains Uncertain for Sydney's 'Grand Project'

A major plan to improve Sydney's walkability, urban design and public transit system have been applauded throughout the city. The only problem is figuring out how to pay for it.

March 27, 2008 - The Sydney Morning Herald

What Will Happen After the Flood

This article from Architect Magazine wonders what coastal cities will look like after the sea level rises.

March 26, 2008 - Architect Magazine

Greening Streets

This piece from The Tyee offers ideas about how to recreate streets into lively public green spaces.

March 26, 2008 - The Tyee

China Needs 'Supercities'

A new report calls on China to cluster its development into "supercities" to obtain greater economic prosperity.

March 26, 2008 - Xinhua

Oregon's Property Rights Debate Offers Lessons to Nation

Oregon's property rights issues should serve as a cautionary tale for the rest of the country, according to this article from Metropolis.

March 26, 2008 - Metropolis Magazine

Land Value Impacts of Bus Rapid Transit: The Case of Bogotá’s TransMilenio

During the last decade, bus rapid transit (BRT) has revolutionized regional transportation planning in much of the developing and developed world.

March 25, 2008 - Lincoln Institute, Land Lines

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.