Density

Seattle Planning Commission Calls for New Residential Density
A recently published white paper written by the Seattle Planning Commission calls on the city to follow in the footsteps of the city of Minneapolis and the state of Oregon.

Thorough, Impactful ADU Reform Proposed in Washington State
A model of accessory dwelling unit reform will be under consideration this year in the Washington State Legislature.

'Missing Middle Housing Act' Would Allow More Housing Options in Nebraska Residential Areas
The ranks of states considering or taking steps to override local control to allow new density in the residential neighborhoods of cities has swelled once again, this time with a state senator in Nebraska pitching statewide legislation.

'TED Meets Burning Man' at Summit Powder Mountain
Developers of a ski town in Utah are expanding the weekend tech conference into a village with permanent residents.

Maryland Could Join the Statewide Density Club
The ambitious "Homes for All" plan would include upzoning as only one tool for addressing the acute housing affordability crisis in the state of Maryland.

Statewide Upzoning Bill Back on the Table in California
News broke yesterday that the dormant SB 50, a bill proposed last year by California State Senator Scott Weiner, has new life in the new year.

Statewide Density Increases Proposed in Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia will consider a bill that would legalize duplexes in single-family zones throughout the state.

Missing Middle Housing Studied in Suburban Virginia
Almost 90% of Arlington County land zones for residential use is reserved for single-family homes. Would adding missing middle housing in the form of duplexes and triplexes keep the price of housing in a more manageable range?

L.A. Architects Demonstrate Livable, Affordable, Scalable Density
Architects Angela Brooks and Lawrence Scarpa discuss their new exhibit and the challenges to planning and building affordable, livable density in Southern California today.

Planning for Infill Growth Doesn't Guarantee Development: a Case Study
The city of Santa Rosa has made a concerted effort to plan for new development, but projects have yet to materialize.

'Gentle Density' to Save Neighborhoods
Cities looking to follow Minneapolis's lead in overturning the status quo of exclusionary zoning should consider "gentle density," according to this article.

Watch: The Effort to End Single-Family Zoning in Minneapolis, Explained
PBS NewsHour devoted a ten-minute news segment to the subject of the avant-garde of urban planning: the Minneapolis 2040 comprehensive plan.

Luxury Condos, Not Luxury Single-Family Homes, Take the Blame in the Affordability Debate
An article in The Urbanist suggests the ire over new developments is misplaced.

Seattle Suburbs Prepare for Light Rail With Zoning for Transit-Oriented Development
Mountlake Terrace is the latest Seattle suburb to make substantial space for new development in anticipation of a forthcoming Link light rail line extending north of Seattle.

Single-Family Zoning on the Cutting Block in Bloomington, Indiana
Move over Minneapolis. An Indiana college town joins the avant-garde of planning innovation by nearing the finish line with a new Unified Development Ordinance that would allow duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes in single-family neighborhoods.

Study: Sprawl Costs Local Governments More
Even when fewer people live in sprawling suburban communities than dense urban communities, one of these settlement types has the benefit of being much cheaper to serve.

Smart Growth and Vehicle Travel Reductions
Many jurisdictions have vehicle travel reduction targets. Integrated Smart Growth policies can help achieve these and other planning goals.

Opinion: The Old Visions of Suburbia Are an Anachronism
Low-density suburbs are on their way out, and the suburbs of the future will better address the present-day needs of the people living in them.

Three Studies That Show Density Doesn't Determine Car Travel
Thirty years after a seminal study attempted to connect increased density with decreased automobile use, several new studies are raising doubts about that central assumption of contemporary planning.

Pedestrian Planning Changing the Public Realm in Vancouver
A renewed commitment to pedestrian friendly infrastructure is changing the face of Vancouver and making space for more density.
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