Questions of density and demographics are challenging a planning process in Ridgewood, New Jersey—the first plan update in the village in more than 30 years.
Alexis Shanes reports on a master plan process underway in Ridgewood, New Jersey, which is encountering questions about whether the plan should be tailored to younger or older populations.
"An early draft of the village’s new master plan sparked concerns this week from some leaders and residents about maintaining the village’s identity and raised worries about whether the village is doing enough to recruit younger residents," explains Shanes. An earlier article from February, also by Shanes, focused on the plan's impact on older residents.
Also challenging the process is the core mission of the process to maintain the village feel of Ridgewood, while also allowing for growth and transformation already underway. "The Hudson Street parking garage is under construction, as is multi-family housing downtown," according to Shanes. "The town’s beloved public library is expected to undergo renovations costing millions of dollars. Some old houses are being torn down to make way for modern ones."
FULL STORY: To embody 'core values,' Ridgewood's new master plan hopes to keep small-town village feel
Details of a New Master Plan for Massachusetts Suburb
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council guided the town of North Reading, located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, through a new master planning process.
Vancouver Launches a New Citywide Planning Process
The first days of public engagement for Vancouver's new citywide plan began this week in Vancouver.
Florida Man Thought the New Comp Plan Included Zoning Changes
A Florida man is accused of not realizing an entirely separate process would be required to implement the zoning changes recommended in a recently approved comprehensive plan.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
USDOT Revokes Approval for NYC Congestion Pricing
Despite the administration’s stated concern for the “working class,” 85 percent of Manhattan commuters use public transit to enter the city.
Tiny House Villages for Addressing Homelessness: An Interview with Yetimoni Kpeebi
One researcher's perspective on the potential of tiny homes and owner-built housing as one tool to fight the housing crisis.
Preserving Altadena’s Trees: A Community Effort to Save a Fire-Damaged Landscape
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena Green is working to preserve fire-damaged but recoverable trees, advocating for better assessment processes, educating homeowners, and protecting the community’s urban canopy from unnecessary removal.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Investigation Reveals Just How Badly California’s Homeless Shelters are Failing
Fraud, violence, death, and chaos follow a billion dollar investment in a temporary solution that is proving ineffective.
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.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research