Josh Brown reports for the Tennessean on the unintended consequences of a fee waiver meant to encourage infill development—developers are readily choosing to pay the fee instead of building sidewalks.
According to Josh Brown, Nashville has had a long history of underbuilding sidewalks, resulting in a legacy of perilous conditions for pedestrians. In fact, "[the] city's 2003 strategic plan for sidewalks and bikeways found that for every three miles of road, there was roughly just a mile of sidewalks."
The article posits, however, "that it's cheaper for builders to pay a fee that waives the requirement to build a sidewalk than it is to construct one." After some 2012 changes meant to encourage infill development, "[the] fee is now a flat rate, depending upon the size of the development, but the most a developer would pay for not building sidewalks is $500 to $1,500."
The article also noted that Nashville ranked as the 15th most dangerous city for pedestrians according to the "Dangerous by Design" pedestrian safety report released in May by Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition.
FULL STORY: Nashville's lack of sidewalks sparks campaign
Nashville Releases 5-Year 'WalknBike' Plan
The plan lays out the city's plans for improving its bike infrastructure and sidewalk network.
Central Park Sidewalk Restoration Project Balances Accessibility, Preservation
The original tile and brick sidewalks now pose safety hazards and don’t fully serve modern accessibility and mobility needs.
Connecticut Launches Complete Streets Standards
The new policy calls for sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks on state roads and state-funded road projects.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.
Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
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