The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

A public plaza along a main street in downtown Wheaton, Illinois.

FEATURE

Suburban Revival: How the 21st Century will Redefine Life Outside the City

America’s suburbs are increasingly diversifying, expanding, and evolving as COVID-19 and new economic realities shape behavior. New stories are unfolding in these suburban places as they change and grow. Is it time for a suburban revival?

November 7 - Chris Freda

Paradise, California

Study: Climate Change Overwhelmingly Responsible for 'Fire Weather'

New research points to global warming as the biggest factor in fueling longer, more destructive wildfire seasons.

November 7 - Los Angeles Times

Feather River Dam

Hydropower Pipeline Rejected By Maine Voters

Maine voters overwhelmingly supported a ballot measure that will halt construction on a hydroelectric transmission line that Massachusetts claims would reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

November 7 - CommonWealth Magazine

A street sign announcing the city of Vaughan.

Council Votes to Allow Development on the York Region's Greenbelt

The York Regional Council took a significant step toward allowing development on a large chunk of the area's greenbelt—a move opponents say will set a dangerous precedent.

November 7 - The Narwhal

Downtown Skyline

PLANOPEDIA

What Is Infill Development?

Billed as an alternative to urban sprawl, infill development encourages the development of underused or vacant land in existing urban areas to increase density and place new development near existing resources and infrastructure.

November 5 - Diana Ionescu


Cherry Creek

Voters, Judge Block Expansion of Denver's Anti-Homeless Camping Ban

Denver voters this week rejected Initiated Ordinance 303, written by chairman of the Denver Republican Party, which would have expanded the city's controversial camping ban.

November 5 - The Denver Post

Bus Stop and Bike Lane

Seattle Redesigns Long-Delayed Ballard Bike Trail

Seattle officials hope a simplified design that avoids relocating railroad tracks will let the decades-old Ballard bike trail project move forward.

November 5 - The Seattle Times


EV charging station with cars at TNB Research, Kajang, Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia

Making The Switch To EVs Requires Robust Charging Infrastructure

With more states outlawing the sales of gas-powered vehicles and the federal government setting ambitious electrification goals, now is the time to invest in critical charging infrastructure.

November 5 - Slate

Miami Bus

To Fight Climate Change, Support Public Transit

Electric cars may garner a lot of attention these days, but significantly reducing carbon emissions and urban congestion means investing in high-quality mass transit.

November 5 - The Verge

Brooklyn, New York City

New Book Interrogates Landscape Architecture Through The Lens Of Black Spaces

A collection of essays provides an insightful look at how Black voices and landscapes have been suppressed and erased in American public space and discourse.

November 4 - The Architect's Newspaper

 View south along Interstate 95 (Pennsylvania Turnpike Delaware River Extension) at Exit 40 (Interstate 276 WEST/Pennsylvania Turnpike, Harrisburg) in Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania

New Interchange Planned Along Pennsylvania Turnpike

Local leaders hope the new interchange will invigorate economic development in the area by providing easier access to the turnpike.

November 4 - The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bus Stop and Bike Lane

Plan for Emissions-Free Zone Takes Shape in Seattle

The city of Seattle is working on a plan to create a zero-emissions zone to mitigate urban pollution and reduce carbon emissions in dense, congested parts of the city.

November 4 - The Urbanist

Vacant Lot

New Protections for 'Vehicular Residential Facilities' Approved in Oakland

The Oakland City Council this week adopted the Construction Innovation Ordinance.

November 4 - The Mercury News

Boulder Colorado

Boulder Voters Want to Keep Limits on Unrelated Home Occupants

Voters in the city of Boulder appeared to reaffirm limits on how many unrelated people can live in a residence.

November 4 - 9 News

Housing protest

As Rent Relief Efforts Drag on, Treasury is Redistributing Funds

"This is not about reward and punishment … It’s about speeding up effective relief for families in need of housing security and eviction protection."

November 4 - Shelterforce Magazine

A busy street in Duluth, full of cars and buses.

New High-Frequency Bus Service Dubbed 'Go Lines' in Duluth

The city of Duluth's reimagined bus transit system will go into effect in Summer 2022 along green and blue "Go Lines."

November 4 - Duluth News Tribune

Manhattan, New York City, New York

Updating New York City's Urban Design Principles

Anita Laremont, newly appointed director of the New York Department of City Planning and chair of the City Planning Commission, elaborates on the city's priorities for the public realm and the role for good urban design to enhance quality of life.

November 4 - The Planning Report

Air Pollution

Mapping Cancer Risk From Toxic Air Pollution

An investigation by ProPublica has produced something the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has never been able to complete: a nationwide map of the cancer risks created by industrial sources of air pollution.

November 3 - ProPublica

Sustainability Leadership and ESG Commitments

Lendlease’s new head of sustainability in the Americas, Sara Neff, describes the advantages of the Australian company’s global integrated business model and leadership in sustainable buildings.

November 3 - The Planning Report

Ohio

Transit Funding Sales Tax Approved by Toledo-Area Voters

Toledo is one of the last corners of Ohio to approve a transit funding sales tax. In effect, voters committed to raise about twice as much as existing property levies currently generate for the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority.

November 3 - The Toledo Blade

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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.

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.