Trees are a vital element of urban design, one that must considered at every stage of planning, design and development.

Paul Crabtree, President of Crabtree Group, Inc., a Civil Engineering and Town Planning firm and Lysistrata "Lyssa" Hall, an ISA certified Arborist and Neighborhood Specialist of the City of Phoenix, Arizona recently presented their paper "Trees in Urban Design" at StormCon 2014 in Portland, Oregon, the largest stormwater pollution prevention conference and exposition of it’s kind.
The report blends a variety of new urban and green infrastructure principles that can be used in tandem to develop cost effective urban designs that create beautiful places. The paper compares the installation, maintenance, and net lifecycle costs of common urban tree planting techniques. Additionally, the paper explores the urban tree’s potential for an immense return on investment through intercepted stormwater, increased property value, and conserved energy.
This paper is a useful reference for planners, advocates of urban design, street designers looking to better understand and employ trees in the design of their communities. The full report can be viewed or downloaded here [pdf].

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems
SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope
Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects
The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.
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