The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

In a rebuff to proponents of local control, a California state appeals court upheld a 1979 law that allows developers to bypass local zoning regulations when including affordable housing in their projects.

February 8 - San Francisco Chronicle

As Oregon's coastal beaches erode, taking valued public space with them and exposing private property to increased risks from flooding and sea-level rise, some local governments want to allow property owners the right to "armor" the coast.

February 8 - OBP

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's "2021 Annual Homeless Assessment Report" comes with significant caveats about partial data and changing homeless shelter practices.

February 8 - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

An aerial tramway project in the French capital cleared feasibility studies and could open in 2025.

February 8 - Bloomberg CityLab

The District of Columbia plans to install ten miles of protected bike lanes this year, among other improvements including additional bike parking and more e-bikes for the Capital Bikeshare fleet.

February 7 - The Washington Post

Last year's Miami Beach condo collapse could portend more tragedy to come if developers don't address the risks of aging buildings and climate change.

February 7 - The New York Times

The zero-emissions bus is part of a regional fleet called the Clean Air Express that connects Santa Barbara County towns and employment centers.

February 7 - The Santa Barbara Independent

New research helps explain why urban housing prices are escalating and how communities can increase affordability. It emphasizes the need to upzone sufficient urban land to create a large competitive market for parcels ready for infill development.

February 7 - UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

With car parking banned from two blocks of Chicago's Milwaukee Avenue on weekend nights, the city could take the opportunity to permanently adapt the space for other uses.

February 7 - Streetsblog Chicago

In Michigan, the state's Department of Transportation is looking for ways to mitigate the damage caused by decades of urban renewal policies and reconnect neighborhoods cut off from amenities and opportunities by highway projects.

February 7 - Deadline Detroit

With billions in new federal funding set to benefit state infrastructure projects, advocates for sustainable transportation call on state leaders to focus resources on public transit, pedestrian, and cycling improvements.

February 7 - Madison Commons

The location of a proposed crossing in the fast-growing southwest Houston suburbs could have a significant impact on the area's development.

February 7 - Houston Chronicle

FEATURE

What do we owe poor cities?

February 6 - Angie Schmitt

Rent control is a political non-starter in the Lone Star State, but as rental prices continue to increase dramatically, advocates are looking for solutions.

February 6 - Texas Tribune

The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority is making sure that large, institutional investors won't continue to corner the rental housing market in Hamilton County.

February 6 - The Real Deal

Laws designed to protect car dealers against price competition from car manufacturers are, in many states, preventing electric car makers from selling directly to consumers.

February 6 - The Atlantic

San Diego County could tax developers based on projected vehicle miles traveled as part of a new CEQA requirement that replaces Level of Service with VMT.

February 4 - KUSI

A national philanthropic program designed to help cities produce more bike infrastructure has been a resounding success, according to recent analysis.

February 4 - Urban Institute

More and more U.S. transit agencies are rolling out electric buses, and the recently approved federal infrastructure bill could make it easier than ever to buy zero emission electric buses.

February 4 - Smart Cities Dive

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has approved a plan to build a light rail route currently called the West Santa Ana Branch Project.

February 4 - Los Angeles Times