For many decades now, most communities in the United States have grown as a series of subdivisions, built on a tried and true formula. It might be time to change the math.
"[Z]oning disputes typically only involve a few parcels of land at a time," according to Sarah Kobos. Controversial and headline-grabbing as some zoning disputes might be, "if you really care about the future of your city, you need to think bigger." One place to look to find the kind of scale Kobos seeks: subdivision regulations.
Kobos writes the local subdivision regulations wield tremendous power, but from obscurity. "Even the most battle-hardened veteran of the zoning wars would be hard pressed to explain what the subdivision regulations do."
That's where Kobos's article comes in: to explain the ins and outs of subdivision regulations, and why they matter to the experience and livability of communities. "If your city hasn’t re-evaluated its subdivision regulations in a while, you’re probably still replicating bad ideas from the 1970’s — creating inflexible, and auto-centric places," writes Kobos. As prescription for subdivision malaise, Kobos recommends a few "baby step" changes that can help implement incremental change with regard to block lengths, connectivity, and cul-de-sacs.
FULL STORY: You Care About the Subdivision Regulations, You Just Don't Know it (Yet)
Florida Law Would Change the Definition of ‘Sprawl’
One quick way to build sprawl.
YIMBYs and Environmentalists Team Up at Last
The politics of development in California achieved another significant milestone recently, when a YIMBY organization and an environmental advocacy organization collaborated on new land use legislation to be considered by the State Legislature.
Zoning Has Support for Sprawl: Subdivision, Covenants, and Mortgages
Zoning codes are not the only kind of land use control that has built the U.S. residential market on the suburban model for more than a century, according to a recent article in The Urbanist.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service