City to consider allowing taller buildings in exchange for more affordable housing downtown.
The city commission will consider changes to downtown building rules that officials hope will draw condos that will sell in the low $100,000s and still be close enough for residents to walk to a downtown job. One of those changes would allow taller buildings downtown. "But the taller buildings will cast longer shadows on downtown pedestrians, a trait some planners say is out of character with some of the great cities of world, where a clear of view of the sky is treasured. And it may dump more traffic in congested downtown, though city officials say many people will need to drive less."
Thanks to David B. Bookless
FULL STORY: W. Palm to weigh height-affordability trade-off

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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.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research