Subdivision Staging Policy stirs passion and, some hope, progress in the Washington, D.C. suburbs of Montgomery County.
Montgomery County, between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore is, for some, synonymous with sprawl. But according to The Washington Post's editorial board, efforts to modernize the county’s zoning laws could help change that. "A proposal before the County Council is on the right track," claims the Post.
The Subdivision Staging Policy at issue has not been universally accepted. "Most of the debate has centered on transportation and proposals to get away from car-centric tests of adequacy in favor of an emphasis on access to transit," The Post says. But the authors of the article remain positive about the direction in the trajectory of the discourse saying, "Debate about development is a staple of Montgomery County civic life and is generally accompanied by strong passions. This plan provides a thoughtful framework for that debate."
FULL STORY: A smart growth plan in Montgomery County
Poll: One-Third of Americans Thinking of Moving to Less Densely Populated Areas
In the midst of the pandemic, Americans are expressing a new preference for less crowded spaces, according to the results of a Harris Poll conducted last week.
Growth Plan Debate Heats Up in Toronto
The question of how and where to grow is causing controversy in Toronto. A recent op-ed picks a side.
Boston Neighborhoods Find Controversy Following Residential Zoning Changes
An in-depth look into the political controversies stirred up in the Boston neighborhood of Jamaica Plain as a result of a proposed, density-adding zoning plan.
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