The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Two weeks after Berkeley became the nation's first city to outlaw natural gas lines in new buildings, the California Public Utilities Commission voted to update an old regulation to allow funding for 'fuel switching' from gas to electric appliances.

August 7 - Utility Dive

King County, Seattle spends 80 of its parks operating budget with money generated from a levy imposed on homeowners. After approving the levy most recently in 2013, voters are supporting it again this week.

August 7 - The Seattle Times

In attendance this week at the National Conference of State Legislatures, the American Planning Association has announced its intentions to lobby attendees on housing policy.

August 7 - American Planning Association

San Diego housing advocates have coined a new term: "YIGBY," or "Yes in God's Backyard," to advance prospects for affordable housing development on property underutilized by houses of worship. The city's planning department is receptive.

August 7 - Next City

New evidence reveals the deep involvement of Koch Industries funding in the Phoenix anti-light rail campaign.

August 7 - Phoenix New Times

You've probably never seen anything like this before, but if you're a bike advocate, it probably still feels familiar.

August 7 - The Boston Globe

A retired city planner takes a position against "lot splitting," or allowing more than one unit on properties zones for single-family residential as it's known in Toronto.

August 7 - The Star

The Universal Epic Universe, proposed for Orlando, Florida, has aspirations as a transit-oriented theme park.

August 7 - The Next Miami

Looking for a way to describe zoning codes, and their role in city planning, to a newcomer to the field? Maybe start here.

August 7 - CityLab

Scooters have helped diversify the mobility landscape, but companies need to better address the recycling and reuse process and the environmental impacts of defunct devices.

August 6 - Smart Cities Dive

An opportunity missed in Detroit.

August 6 - Detroit Free Press

Details of the "Sue the Suburbs" movement wielding a new legal tool to counteract the traditionally obstructionist methods of land use regulation in California.

August 6 - The Mercury News

Transit expansions are providing incentives to companies to locate outside of city centers, upending traditional housing, work, and commute patterns.

August 6 - The Globe and Mail

Depending on your interest and perspective, the lede might be buried here.

August 6 - Treasure Coast Newspapers

A scathing critique of city planning, and the special interests that hold the system in thrall, in New York City.

August 6 - Gotham Gazette

An editorial by the Los Angeles Times calls for the state to remove barriers to housing shortage after a report finds declining numbers of residential permits around the state.

August 6 - Los Angeles Times

Rent the Backyard plans to help homeowners build and rent a coach houses in their backyards and split the rent with them.

August 6 - TechCrunch

A study from the University of Minnesota documents how bike infrastructure can connect workers to jobs, maps job accessibility and ranks U.S. cities by bike access to jobs.

August 6 - Streetsblog USA

An innovative pilot project is under way in Washington, D.C., which is pursuing radical steps to rethink the use of on-street curb spaces in an era of transformative transportation technology.

August 6 - The Washington Post

The Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority (Tulsa Transit) is launching a redesigned bus system this September. Tulsa Transit is offering free rides to boost the new service.

August 5 - Public Radio Tulsa