British Columbia

Vancouver Waterfront

For Vancouver’s Carbon Footprint Reduction Plan, 2030 is the New 2040

Four months after formally recognizing climate change as an emergency, the Vancouver City Council considers six large-scale changes to dramatically reduce city-wide carbon emissions.

April 26, 2019 - Vancouver Sun

Rowhouses in Canada

'Rental-Only Zoning' a Tough Task

Richmond, British Columbia is trying to develop "rental-only zoning" for 60 properties in the city.

April 5, 2019 - Richmond News

Vancouver Skyline

Effectiveness of Vancouver Affordable Housing Program Questioned

With prices listed at $1,600 a month for a studio, $2,800 for a two-bedroom and $3,700 for a three-bedroom, officials in Vancouver, British Columbia are wondering whether the Rent 100 program is achieving its intended goals.

March 26, 2019 - The Star Vancouver

Baltimore Demolition

Putting in Condos Without Kicking Out Renters in Vancouver

Transit oriented development doesn’t have to mean evictions and demolitions for existing renters, but often it does.

March 5, 2019 - The Tyee

Vancouver Street

Vancouver's Ride-Hail-Free Mobility Landscape

While ride-hailing is on the horizon for the Canadian city, the experience so far without the mode provides useful insight into its effects on regional mobility.

February 14, 2019 - Slate

Vancouver, British Columbia

Gentrification in Chinatown Harms Social Cohesion, Food Security

A new report focuses on the consequences of gentrification in Vancouver's Chinatown neighborhood.

January 26, 2019 - The Star Vancouver

JR Shinkansen

An Interstate High-Speed Rail Authority on the Legislative Agenda in Washington

A big idea is gaining momentum.

January 25, 2019 - The Urbanist

Carbon Tax

Progressive Carbon Pricing Policy Should Address Social Equity

Putting a price on carbon emissions is widely viewed as an effective tool to reduce emissions. It can also be applied to help those who stand to lose the most from climate change, thus enabling a socially just transition to a low carbon economy.

January 15, 2019 - World Resources Institute

Protected Bike Lane

British Columbia's Climate Plan Bans Sales of Gas and Diesel Passenger Vehicles by 2040

Ten years ago, British Columbia launched North America's first carbon tax. This month, Premier John Horgan unveiled the long awaited climate plan, CleanBC, that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 2007 levels by 2030.

December 26, 2018 - Vancouver Sun

Brightline

Virgin Trains, Formerly Brightline, Planning Eight Expansion Corridors

November's bombshell news about the partnership between Virgin and Brightline has now yielded ambitious plans for private investment in intercity rail service.

December 6, 2018 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Puget Sound

Big Wins for Urbanism in Cascadia

"Yes we actually did that."

November 25, 2018 - Sightline Institute

Agricultural Land

British Columbia Wants to Curb Mega-Mansion Construction in the Agricultural Land Reserve

Farmers around Vancouver's Agricultural Land Reserve have been building "mega-mansions" on their farmland. The province wants to limit the scale of such homes, but farmers are pushing back.

November 22, 2018 - The Star

Vancouver Skyline

Vancouver Launching its First Citywide Plan Since 1928

The Vancouver City Council decided to launch a new housing vision for the British Columbia city. Planners will have their work cut out for them balancing all the stakeholders in the expensive city.

November 18, 2018 - The Star

Vancouver Skyline Bikes

New Vancouver Council Plotting to Rescind Recently Approved Zoning Changes

Local elections have consequences.

November 7, 2018 - Vancouver Courier

A History of State-Mandated Upzonings in the Pacific Northwest

Past examples of state and provincial governments preempting the land use authority of local governments present several lessons on how to do state-mandated upzoning effectively.

November 5, 2018 - Sightline Institute

British Columbia

Vancouver's Incoming Mayor Has an Ambitious Housing Agenda

Vancouver Mayor-elect Kennedy Stewart has made some big, ambitious promises when it comes to housing construction in the expensive city.

October 27, 2018 - The Globe and Mail

Vancouver

Op-Ed: Treat Vancouver Election as a Referendum on Zoning Decisions

The decision to rezone most of Vancouver to allow for duplexes could have consequences in this weekend's municipal election.

October 18, 2018 - The Vancouver Sun

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Op-Ed: Seattle Merely 'Inching Forward' on ADUs

They're a good start. But compared to similar policies in cities like Portland and Vancouver, Seattle's new policies around accessory dwelling units may be lackluster.

October 12, 2018 - The Urbanist

British Columbia residential Neighborhoods

Duplexes Approved for 99 Percent of Vancouver Single-Family Neighborhoods

The city of Vancouver's new density regulations will be the envy of many a YIMBY.

September 21, 2018 - The Vancouver Sun

Lougheed Highway in Pitt Meadows

An International 'Winner' for the Sorriest Bus Stop in America

Streetsblog readers have decided to cross the border in selecting this year's "Sorriest Bus Stop in America."

September 18, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

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.