A tough critic begrudgingly congratulates the Dallas City Council for its courage in approving the city's new comprehensive plan, part of a two-year effort aided by Fregonese Calthorpe Associates.
"Neighborhood activists were aghast that the city would even consider tampering with the bloodily won accord of 20 years ago that gave neighborhood groups control over growth (they wanted none), development (only according to their measurements), and zoning (do not touch). City planners not only tampered with it; they drove a bulldozer right through it.
The neighborhood activists screamed and cried and bullied the City Plan Commission into gutting the plan. Activists are loud, they are confrontational, and they know how to turn out votes. Those tactics are why many parts of our city are stagnant and in decay. The comprehensive plan was the planners’ counterattackâ€"and the City Council backed them up."
FULL STORY: A Fresh Start for Dallas
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.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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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