Is "conservation development" a viable method to combat sprawl? If so, city planners will need to be flexible.
Gary Piro, former San Diego planning commissioner and owner of a San Marcos civil engineering and land-planning firm, advocates "conservation development" as a method to combat sprawl. As described by Randall Arendt, noted planner and author of "Rural by Design" and "Growing Greener," conservation development incorporates the preservation of large tracts of land for biological or other reasons, with high density development immediately adjacent to it where infrastructure is more readily available. The combination of open space and high density living produces real estate of comparable or higher value than a sprawled suburb due to the attractiveness of nearby open space. Property tax revenue brought in by the city would also be the same. However, city planners need to immediately implement flexible design criteria to allow such developments to occur, Arendt says, for community design regulations currently present many obstacles for innovative land use.
Thanks to California 2000 Project
FULL STORY: Practicing 'smart conservation'
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Minneapolis Bans Rent-Setting Software
Four cities have enacted restrictions on algorithmic software that can inflate rent costs.
Oakland to Add 244 New EV Chargers
Oakland plans to launch its new charging network at eight locations by the end of 2025.
Jane Goodall Inspires with Message of Hope, Resilience, and Environmental Action
Speaking in Pasadena, Jane Goodall offered a hopeful and inspirational message, urging global compassion, environmental responsibility, and the power of individual action to shape a better future.
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.
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Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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