Planning

Planning Year in Review 2023: Zoning Reform, a Rail Revolution, and Climate Realities
Last year’s most talked-about planning issues and news.

All We Want for the Holidays is…
Here are a dozen timely gift ideas for creating better communities.

Planetizen’s Top Posts of 2023
The most-read articles on Planetizen in 2023.

Boston to Begin Zoning Code Update, Mayor Announces
It’s been nearly 60 years, but the city of Boston is finally ready to do a comprehensive rewrite of its zoning code.

Draft Comprehensive Plan Published for Deschutes County, Oregon
Deschutes County is working on a new comprehensive plan that will chart land use for the Central Oregon county for the next 20 years.

BikeWalkOKC Plan Updated After Five Years of Progress
The BikeWalkOKC plan has proceeded faster than expected after its approval in 2018. A 2023 update is expected to pick up where the 2018 plan left off.

Alexandria Draft ‘Zoning for Housing’ Plan Would End Single-Family Zoning
Alexandria planners have revealed a draft plan that would eliminate single-family zoning citywide.

Pittsburgh Launches New Comprehensive Plan Process
Pittsburgh is starting from scratch on a new comprehensive plan, after stalling on the ForgingPGH plan in 2021.

‘Tempe Tomorrow’ Plans for Expected Population Growth
Tempe planners are preparing a General Plan update scheduled for voter approval in March 2024.

Lessons for Software UX From Ancient City Planners
Cities have been designed for user experience (UX) for millennia, and contemporary UX designers have plenty to learn from planners, according to a recent article in Fast Company.

Why Aren’t There More Planners?
Planning can be a great career for socially conscious individuals, but university programs are struggling to attract new students to the field. A trio of academics are raising awareness about the field through community activation.

New Public Hearing Requirements Delay Completion of Reston’s New Comprehensive Plan
One of the country’s most prominent master-planned communities has spent several years working on an a comprehensive plan update. The plan will have to wait a little longer as the Fairfax County, Virginia community adjusts to new state laws.

The 100 Most Influential Urbanists, Past and Present
Planetizen readers have decided the who's who of urbanism (and its discontents) in 2023.

An Urban Planner Dedicated to Winning the Funding Necessary to Do the Work
An interview with Katy Shackelford, AICP, PTP, an urban planner and a funding specialist, to discuss the unique paths a planning career can take, and how unexpected career choices can deliver big benefits.

A Small Town Makes its First Zoning Update Since 1997
Mixed-use development and a floodplain overlay are the big-ticket items when the small community of Akron Borough in Pennsylvania recently updated its zoning code.

Opinion: Lower Rents Will Give Downtown Spaces Back to the ‘Weirdos’
Introducing the “CBGB theory of city planning.”

An Interview with the APA President: Angela D. Brooks, FAICP
APA President Angela D. Brooks discusses a career focused on affordable housing, supportive housing, and joint-use facilities. The interview suggest ways for planners to help solve some of the biggest challenges facing the country today.

Vote for the Most Influential Urbanists, Past and Present
Readers sent hundreds of nominees for an updated version of Planetizen's Most Influential Urbanists list. Now's your chance to vote among 200 nominees.

Sioux Falls Multi-Family Development Outpaces Transportation Improvements
Sioux Falls, South Dakota is undergoing a multi-family development boom. Residents are increasingly concerned about the traffic the development brings, according to local news reports.

The Top Schools For Urban Planners
The 7th Edition of the Planetizen Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs, now available, includes an updated ranking of the Top 25 master’s programs in urban planning, city planning, regional planning, and community planning.
Pagination
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.
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport