Newport, Rhode Island is undertaking a major planning initiative during the pandemic.

The city of Newport, Rhode Island has reached a significant benchmark with its North End Urban Plan, reports Sean Flynn, and has public hearings to discuss the plan scheduled for this month.
"NBBJ Inc., with offices in Boston, was hired in December 2019 to give the city a master plan in preparation for the development of the vacant Newport Grand site and the redesign of the Pell Bridge ramps that is expected to free up land for economic development," according to Flynn.
"NBBJ delivered two work products, the Urban Plan itself and a North End Character-Based Code, a series of zoning recommendations that were developed by its subcontractor, Code Studio, a national firm with headquarters in Austin, Texas," adds Flynn.
The public engagement process has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic (a public gathering planned for March or April was canceled), but the public has been encouraged to take an online survey to provide feedback to the city's Planning Board.
If the Planning Board approves the plan, the City Council would then undertake another round of review and public hearings. One organization, the Greening Urban Spaces Working Group of the Newport Health Equity Zone, has already criticized the plan for lack of public engagement.
FULL STORY: Newport residents will have chance to weigh in on North End Urban Plan

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

Colorado Lawmakers Move to Protect BRT Funding
In the face of potential federal funding cuts, CDOT leaders reasserted their commitment to planned bus rapid transit projects.

Safe Streets Funding in Jeopardy
The Trump administration is specifically targeting bike infrastructure and other road safety projects in its funding cuts.

Six Reasons Why Housing Is a Human Right
Is housing a human right? A law professor shares six reasons why it should be, from its role in protecting other rights to global recognition and U.S. legal traditions. As public support grows, could housing be the next right written into law?
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland