Zoning
New Zealand Zoning Reform Targets Housing Production
New national rules will prevent local councils from limiting development in an effort to ease the nation’s housing crisis.
How to Repurpose Vacant Storefronts
Loosening restrictions on clean light manufacturing can revive dormant storefronts and revitalize communities.
NYC ‘City of Yes’ Seeks to Scale Back Parking Requirements
A rise in permit applications after recent changes to parking requirements shows how parking mandates stifle new residential development and raise the cost of housing.
Commentary: When Neighborhood Change is Inevitable
Changes in the size and type of housing can accommodate different living arrangements and offer opportunities for multigenerational living and aging in place.
COVID Isn’t to Blame for the Retail Vacancy Crisis
A drop in demand for retail space began well before the seismic shifts of the pandemic.
‘Emergent City’ Documentary Highlights Rare Anti-Gentrification Victory
The film charts the saga of a Brooklyn site called Industry City.
How Zoning Affects Greenhouse Gas Emissions
As the urgency of the climate crisis increases, a paper in the Notre Dame Law Review argues that increased density is not a universally effective strategy to reduce emissions and that different strategies are needed for low-carbon places versus high-carbon ones.
Connecticut Cities Slow to Submit Affordable Housing Plans
Per a 2017 state law, all cities and towns must submit plans for providing enough housing in their jurisdictions, but a lack of clarity and enforcement mechanisms gives the law little real power.
Vermont Land Use Case Could Go to Supreme Court
Property owners argue that a new law protecting wildlife corridors amounts to an unconstitutional taking of property.
Arizona Legalizes ADUs and Higher Downtown Density Statewide
Two new laws require cities to permit ‘missing middle housing’ near city centers and ADUs on all single-family lots.
Vermont Issues Missing Middle Housing Toolkit
The state wants to encourage mid-density development to ease the housing crisis and provide a wider variety of housing options for residents.
Is a Taco a Sandwich? It Depends on Your City’s Zoning Laws
A land use dispute in Indiana points to broader questions about zoning and property rights.
A Comic Book About Housing
In ‘Build, Baby, Build,’ economist Bryan Caplan makes the case for zoning deregulation in a graphic novel format.
Austin Reduces Minimum Lot Size
Smaller lot sizes for single-family homes can make construction more affordable and homeownership available to more households.
Minneapolis 2040 Plan Could Proceed Under New Law
A state law awaiting the governor’s signature could exempt comprehensive plans from environmental review, freeing the plan from recent lawsuits.
Rural New York Explores Creative Housing Solutions
Rural communities and small cities are implementing affordable housing solutions at the local level, while the state budget prioritizes urban areas.
Ohio Towns Move to Ban New Car Washes
City officials in northeast Ohio are putting limits on how many car wash facilities can open in their towns.
A Look at Milwaukee’s Proposed Zoning Reform
The proposed changes would permit more flexible housing development while limiting changes in historic neighborhoods and on smaller streets.
Cities Prepare to Regulate Air Taxis
If the technology takes off, city officials will need to step into the world of aviation rules to ensure safety and limit environmental impact.
Columbus Zoning Reform Proposal Garners Varied Responses
Proponents of a new zoning designation say it will ease the housing crisis, while other residents worry about density, historic resources, and property taxes.
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
