Land Use

Dubai's Development Is More Than Novelty

More than just a spectacle, Dubai is positioning itself to become one of the world's preeminent cultural and economic capitals.

November 27, 2007 - Metropolis Magazine

New York Rail Yard Plans Fail To Amaze

Plans to redevelop New York City's West Side rail yards are underwhelming, according to this review.

November 25, 2007 - The New York Times

Eminent Domain Evoked As Landowner Demands Market Rate

A landowner who insisted on selling his property to a local municipality at the market rate had his land seized through eminent domain. Many are calling for a condemnation of the city's action.

November 25, 2007 - The Denver Post

Power Plant Meets Opposition From Hunters, Environmentalists

Environmentalists and hunters have teamed up to fight against developers of a geothermal power plant who want to use the water from a California aquifer that sustains a large swath of vegetation and an active hunting ground.

November 24, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Raleigh Weighs Proposal To Limit Home Size

With residents pushing for new rules to prevent tear-downs, a measure to temporarily restrict construction of new homes goes before the city council.

November 24, 2007 - The News & Observer

Harlem Fights Back Over Columbia University Expansion

The university's plans, which are subject to approval next week, are strongly opposed by local residents, who city decades of poor relations with the elite institution.

November 23, 2007 - The Guardian Unlimited

Zoning Laws May Give Locals Control Over Slot Plan

In 2008, Maryland voters will consider a plan to allow slot gambling machines in the state. But local zoning regulations could trump the state law, giving communities control over whether the machines are allowed or not.

November 22, 2007 - The Baltimore Sun

Developing The Least Developed

Western planners and architects have drafted a broad master plan for Kigali, the capital of Rwanda -- one of the least developed nations in the world.

November 21, 2007 - Metropolis Magazine

Fighting Wildfires With Land Use Laws

More than controlled burns or flying water tankers, zoning could be the firefighters most powerful tool.

November 21, 2007 - The Huffington Post

L.A. Is King Of Traffic Congestion, Dumb Growth

People who drive in L.A. have a lot of time to think about the urban form while they sit in traffic. Specifically, they wonder why everything in Southern California requires a trip in the car.

November 21, 2007 - California Planning & Development Report

City Of Victoria Wants Lawn Bowling Club Gone From Prime Downtown Location

The scene of white-clad lawn bowlers playing amid highrises, long an icon of downtown Victoria, will soon vanish, as the city plans to turn a long-established club's greens into underground parking and a hard-surfaced urban plaza.

November 19, 2007 - Victoria Times Colonist

Land Use Planning And Climate Change May Be Linked In Lawsuits

While Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has received fame for making global warming a priority, he has studiously avoided the land use connection. Not so for California's attorney general, who is tackling the issue head on, even warning of litigation.

November 16, 2007 - The Oakland Tribune

Monkeys Drive City Bananas

Thousands of wild monkeys are invading New Delhi -- a side effect of increasing outward urban development from the city's central core. The monkeys have been causing mischief throughout the city, and officials are scrambling to control the problem.

November 16, 2007 - The New York Times

Is Eminent Domain Being Abused?

Comedian Drew Carey takes a straight-faced look at eminent domain and how the land acquisition practice has gone from beneficial to abusive in National City, California in this video from Reason.

November 16, 2007 - Reason

Ideas Of The Public Sought In Planning Vancouver's Growth

Vancouver looks to its people to help chart out the city's future growth strategy.

November 15, 2007 - The Vancouver Sun

San Jose: 'Not For Sale By Owner'

Economist Peter Gordon reflects on a recent tour of San Jose, California -- where the so-called "revitalized" downtown is dead and nearly one-third of the city is blighted.

November 14, 2007 - Peter Gordon's Blog

Measure 49 Only A Small Step Back From Measure 37

This editorial from The Oregonian argues that even though Measure 49 passed, it is only a slight step backward on an irreversible path towards more property rights in Oregon.

November 14, 2007 - The Oregonian

The Suburbs Aren't Family Friendly After All

While hard-working families with children often head out to the suburbs for an affordable home, the hidden toll is the long commutes by car -- and its frequently women who bear the brunt of the costs.

November 13, 2007 - The Huffington Post

Plan For The Community, Not Developers

Philadelphia's new waterfront plan should lead the charge to take back the planning process from the city's real estate interests, argues one citizen activist.

November 13, 2007 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

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.