Land Use

Friday Funny: Sheep Protest Against Urban Sprawl

Farmers in Spain led hundreds of sheep down city streets to protest urban encroachment on farm lands and livestock trails.

November 24, 2006 - CNN

An Urban Tour Of New Delhi

A tour of Delhi, India, one of the world's fast-growing megacities.

November 23, 2006 - Urban Tours by Rental Car

Revamped Plan For Beijing On Display

An exhibition has opened in Beijing, highlighting the city's attempts to revamp their city planning in preparation for the 2008 Olympics.

November 23, 2006 - China Daily

City of Angels, East: An Urban Tour Of Bangkok

An automobile tour through Bangkok explores the city that epitomizes urban decentralization in Asia.

November 21, 2006 - Urban Tours by Rental Car

Hill May Get Flat Top For Development In Raleigh

This article in North Carolina's Independent Weekly looks at a proposal to chop the top off a historic hill in Raleigh to make way for commercial development. Environmental groups are opposing the plan.

November 21, 2006 - The Independent Weekly (North Carolina)

Scotland's Planning System Changes Leave Out Public

Broad changes to Scotland's planning systems were recently approved. A proposal to give communities a third party right of appeal did not pass, leaving many residents concerned that they will have little say in the planning and development of their communities.

November 20, 2006 - The Scotsman

What's A Guy Gotta Do To Run A Strip Club In This City?

As industrial areas convert to condos and a new baseball stadium eats up a large chunk of their former stomping grounds, it's getting harder and harder for strip clubs to find a place to operate in Washington D.C.

November 20, 2006 - Washington City Paper

What Makes A Good Developer?

City Watch Los Angeles examines the different types of real estate developers, and identifies the key factors that make for a "good" developer.

November 19, 2006 - Los Angeles City Watch

A Battle Over Growth In Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County residents, 1000 Friends of Florida and environmental activist Rosa Durando have filed paperwork with the State of Florida this week to challenge County land use amendment approvals, and gain standing to participate in negotiation.

November 18, 2006 - Palm Beach Post

Friday Funny: First Advertising Visible From Space

Kentucky Fried Chicken became the world's first logo visible from outer space by unveiling a record-breaking 87,500 square feet, updated Colonel Sanders logo in the Area 51 desert. Will cities need to begin regulating space advertising?

November 17, 2006 - Michael Castellon's Blog

A Citizens Guide to Subdivisions and Smart Growth

A new guide helps citizens to identify the differences between good and bad subdivisions in Monanta.

November 16, 2006 - Montana Smart Growth Coalition

Altering Land Use For Healthier Food Access

This article from Smart Growth Online looks at the increasing concentration of fast food restaurants in many cities and the resulting impact on public health, and also offers some advice to communities for using land use strategies to limit the i

November 16, 2006 - Smart Growth Online

When City Planners Oppose Elected Officials

What happens when the professional planning staff advising an elected board disagrees with the conclusions of the elected board, and is required to submit a proposal that the planners opposed to a state regulatory agency for approval?

November 16, 2006 - Sun-Sentinel

Las Vegas Running Out Of Land

With development encroaching on mountains, Indian lands, and protected species' habitats, projections are that the city will run out of room to grow.

November 15, 2006 - USA Today

Relocating An Entire Town To Avoid Continued Flooding

Moving communities that lie in high hazard areas seems logical, but someone has to pay the bill.

November 13, 2006 - The New York Times

University Proposes Utopian Vision For Grant Land

The University of Minnesota has announced plans to make use of 7,800 acres of open land by creating a utopian community laboratory, with housing for 20,000-30,000 people and an integration of agriculture, commercial space, public transit and open space.

November 13, 2006 - Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune

Eminent Domain Limitations May Stand In Arizona

As voters in Arizona overwhelmingly approved a ballot initiative to restrict the government's use of eminent domain, the state's Supreme Court unanimously overturned another court's ruling that the initiative was invalid.

November 11, 2006 - KVOA News

Oregon Struggles With Planning Reform

Much has changed in the decades since the state created its widely lauded planning policies and programs. Now Oregon planners are trying to re-energize the state's residents around planning issues, in order to make needed reforms.

November 10, 2006 - New West

Voters Clamp Down On Eminent Domain

Eight states approved new measures to restrict the use of eminent domain on November 7th -- widely seen as a reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Kelo vs. New London.

November 10, 2006 - CNNMoney.com

Creating A New National Park From Private Land

The founder of Burt's Bees is buying land in hopes of creating a new national park in Maine, but locals disagree with the plan to ban snowmobiling, hunting and all-terrain vehicles on 50,000 of her acres.

November 9, 2006 - The New York Times

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.