Land Use

A Major Victory For Smart Growth Advocates

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upholds multi-jurisdictional zoning that directs growth to densely populated areas while protecting rural areas.

January 6, 2004 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Granny Flats: A Short-term Affordable Housing Fix?

U.S. cities and states are rewriting zoning codes for second housing units -- often called 'granny flats'.

January 6, 2004 - USA Today

Green Acres Beckon, But Not For Long

Driving 20 miles for a gallon of milk, and strange night time noises make rural life untenable for rural transplants.

January 6, 2004 - The Washington Post

The End Of Loudoun County Purchase Of Development Rights Program?

Efforts to preserve undeveloped property in in Loudoun County are labeled 'feel-good waste.'

January 5, 2004 - The Washington Post

Clark County's Contrarian Planner

The Columbian profiles Clark County Community Development director Richard Carson about his 'contrarian' perspectives on planning.

January 3, 2004 - The Columbian

Urban Industrial Use Makes A Comeback

The Central Eastside area of Portland is seeing a resurgence of updated industrial uses.

January 1, 2004 - The Oregonian

Mega-Distribution Centers: Not On My Farmland

The development of mega-distribution warehouses, like one the size of 40 football fields, is being met with resentment and resistance by many residents.

December 31, 2003 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Existing Provincial Policies Work Against Smart Growth

A new report details the costs of urban sprawl in southern Ontario.

December 30, 2003 - Pembina Institute

Wal-Mart Incentives: Is This Economic Development?

Subsidies, condemnation, and lop-sided tax policies are among the many ways governments give chain stores an advantage over independent retailers.

December 30, 2003 - Colorado Daily

The Special Use Permit Doesn't Cover Souls

A special use permit for a proposed Buddhist retreat has the community asking, what would Jesus do?

December 30, 2003 - Times Union

The Value Of New Urbanism

A new study finds interesting contradictions in what Americans are willing to pay to live in new urbanist communities.

December 29, 2003 - Wall St. Journal

Uninhabited Island Is a Contentious Site

The Army Corps of Engineers and the Audubon Society are among the stakeholders who are blocking the development of housing on an uninhabited island.

December 28, 2003 - The Chicago Tribune

Schools Faced With Increasing Enrollments Need Planning

Faced with increased enrollments that could double in the next 20 years, one high school in Illinois acquires a nearby aging golf course.

December 27, 2003 - The Chicago Tribune

A Perpetual Planning Failure

How a mall near Charlotte, North Carolina symbolizes a continual problem of urban development.

December 26, 2003 - Creative Loafing Atlanta

Sacramento Regional Planning Process Draws Thousands

A regional visioning project has drawn about 2000 people to workshops to plan the future of the Sacramento region, in California.

December 26, 2003 - The Sacramento Bee

Ohio Subcommittee Meets On Growth And Land Use

This report from the Ohio Planning Conference includes three parts: A news article on growth controls, an editorial response, and an op-ed piece on impact fees.

December 25, 2003 - Ohio Planning Conference

Portsmouth To Have a Town Center

Many, weary of sprawling conditions in Portsmouth, RI, look forward to 'ambitious' efforts to create a town center.

December 24, 2003 - The Providence Journal

To Protect Farms, Grow Cities Sensibly

America's most valuable resource is also the most endangered.

December 24, 2003 - The Christian Science Monitor

Whatever Happened To Ramapo?

Golden v. Ramapo marked the first time in the U.S. that a town was legally approved to control its own growth.

December 24, 2003 - Planning Magazine

One City May Be Collecting Impact Fees Illegally

Ocean Springs, MS faces problems as the attorney general is set out to show that the collection of municipal impact fees on new development is illegal.

December 24, 2003 - Clarion Ledger

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.