The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The Metrics of Outdoor Dining
Outdoor dining programs are proving popular in cities all over the United States, as a lifeline for both restaurants and residents seeking some social normalcy. Data from San Francisco reveal the numbers behind the phenomenon.

D.C. Metro Seeks Public Input on Proposed Service Cuts
D.C. Metro Seeks Public Input on Proposed Service Cuts

Detroit Continues Demolition Program After Lead Risks Revealed
The city of Detroit said it would halt a demolition program after a report revealed the amount of lead released by demolitions into the environment, risking the health of children and other local residents.

Potential Presidential Election Outcomes for U.S. Transportation Policy
Experts opine on the consequences of the presidential election for U.S. transportation policy.

Op-Ed: It’s Long Past Time for Planning Reform in L.A.
Another corruption scandal involving a Los Angeles city councilmember highlights the urgent need for major planning changes in the city.

Las Vegas Golf Course With a History of Development Controversy Cleared for Houses
A golf course formerly owned by "legendary sports bettor-turned-convicted insider trader" Billy Walters finally has the residential zoning that created so much controversy in the past.

A New App Helps Identify 15-Minute City
The new 15-Minute City App generates maps which show the number of services and activities within a 15 minute walk, and and therefore whether an area can be considered a 15-minute neighborhood.

The Boring Company Coming Up Short of Expectations in Las Vegas
It seems like the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority expected trouble with The Boring Company, and built a contract that will impact Elon Musk's bottom line for falling short of agreed system capacity and construction timelines.

BLOG POST
A Bipartisan Case for Mass Timber—Combating Wildfires and Developing Local Economies
What’s good for our forests and planet can also be good for our jobs, communities, and the economy. That’s why we’re writing this together—an ex-Democratic political operative and an ex-Republican staff member who want to see mass timber flourish.

Form-Based Codes Explained as Covington's Neighborhood Development Code Takes Effect
The new form-based code for the Kentucky city of Covington went into effect on October 15. Officials are promoting the simplicity of the new code to the public.

A Short-Term Approach to Climate Change Planning
The climate change discussion is usually defined by timelines that reach the end of the century, but some cities are preparing for the future of an altered climate by taking a short-term approach.

The State of the Market for Second Homes, Prior to the Pandemic
Half of the nation's second homes are found in nine states, according to recent data analysis by the National Association of Home Builders, and building is likely to increase in vacation areas soon, according to one expert.

FEATURE
Seeing the Street
A San Francisco-based design studio describes the thought process behind an effort to push outdoor lighting design beyond the lowest common denominator allowed by bureaucracy and status quo thinking.

Herd Immunity Finds Receptive Audience in White House and Florida
A trio of epidemiologists from Stanford, Harvard, and the University of Oxford have joined the president's new coronavirus medical advisor, Scott Atlas, in promoting an alternative approach to dealing with coronavirus infections.

Pandemic's Economic Realities Bolster Case for a Land Value Tax
The example of Philadelphia shows how a land value tax could provide relief to residents and the city's finances.

Atlanta Bus Rapid Transit Project, a First in Georgia, Moves Along
The first-ever Bus Rapid Transit system for the region surrounding Atlanta is making progress, and ready to hire consultants.

PLANOPEDIA
What Is a Specific Plan?
Specific Plans are unique to the state of California, but come up frequently in media coverage of planning. Understanding the purpose of Specific Plans can also open a window to understanding of how planning works all over the country.

Fort Worth Plans Big Moves to Rebrand Near Southside
Fort Worth business owners plan to promote the Near Southside area as a hub for artists and entrepreneurs.

'Pedestrians First' Measures Walkability for Babies, Toddlers, Caregivers, Everyone
The ITDP's new Pedestrians First tool describes why and how to improve walking conditions, and provides comprehensive analysis of walkability for 1000 cities.

First Look: Zoning Changes Proposed to Implement Minneapolis' Landmark Comp Plan
A plan is only as good as its implementation, and so the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan needs the right zoning code to achieve its lofty goals.
Pagination
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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.