The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Lake Erie Granted Legal Rights by Voters
Toledo, Ohio held a special election for voters to decide on the Lake Erie Bill of Rights.

Oregon First State to Implement Statewide Rent Control
Democratic legislators made short work of a huge shift in housing policy.

HUD Program to Connect Low-Income Housing Tax Credits in Opportunity Zones
A new program announced by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is designed to encourage Opportunity Zone investments that address poverty and underinvestment.

A New Player in Planning Los Angeles: Marqueece Harris-Dawson
The new chair of the Planning and Land Use Management committee of the Los Angeles City Council will influence how the city grapples with homelessness, an expanding rail system, and the 2028 Olympics.

Tax Breaks Offered in Exchange for Affordable Housing in Downtown Phoenix
The state of Arizona doesn't allow local jurisdictions to charge affordable housing fees for new developments, so the city of Phoenix is offering tax breaks as an incentive instead.

Pushing the Austin City Council to Ditch Parking Minimums
Austin seems like a safe bet to be one fo the next cities to end parking minimums citywide, and advocates are already pressing for the change.

Growth Plan Debate Heats Up in Toronto
The question of how and where to grow is causing controversy in Toronto. A recent op-ed picks a side.

FEATURE
A Sprinkle of Stores: Wrestling With Jacobs's Uncertainty
Jane Jacobs used vague terms to describe the number of stores necessary for a safe and vibrant streetscape. Here, author Fanis Grammenos attempts to discover a more specific number to attach to this prescription.

Voters Considering Game Changing 'Connect Gwinnett Transit Plan'
Suburban Gwinnett County could change the course of its history by finally voting to connect to the Atlanta region's transit network.

Los Angeles Wants its River Back From the Feds
Regional officials don't think the federal government is doing enough to warrant continued ownership of the Los Angeles River flood control channels that cut a 40-mile path through the city and county.

Breaking News: 10-Point Plan to Restructure the MTA Announced
Local and state leadership finally agreed on a plan to fix the city of New York's struggling transit system.

Regional Transportation Authority of Central Oklahoma Formed
Officials in six Oklahoma cities are hoping to add public transit connections throughout the region.

ADU Results Fall Short of Intentions in D.C. Region
Accessory dwelling unit regulations vary but results are consistently underwhelming in the D.C. region.

Expansion Planned for Low-Income Bus Pass Program in Seattle
The ORCA Opportunity program will provide free bus passes to some of the city’s low-income residents.

Pittsburgh's Big Development Plans Ready to Switch Gears
There are plenty of big, splashy projects to track in Pittsburgh's development pipeline.

Major Bus Transit Investments Proposed for Minnesota
Bus transit advocates in the state of Minnesota are happy to see they have a friend in the Governor's Office.

More Planning Staff Needed to Keep Up With the Amazon Boom in Northern Virginia
The arrival of Amazon's HQ2 facility in Northern Virginia is expected to multiply development investment in the area, requiring more planners to review project proposals.

Boston Plans to Put $26 Million Toward Affordable Housing Projects
A new initiative will fund 10 new developments as the city works to increase available affordable housing.

Seattle Could Be at the Forefront of the Mass Timber Industry
Cross-laminated timber offers a multitude of environmental and economic benefits. With the state’s resources and Seattle’s construction needs, the city is the ideal location for mass timber production to take off.

Seven State DOTs Awarded $10 Million to Study Gas Tax Alternatives
When transportation spending was last reauthorized, rather than hike the gas tax to maintain current spending, Congress diverted general fund revenue. A program to study alternative revenue options was created so states could launch pilot projects.
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