Land Use Regulation
State Law Allows for Local Reform of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act
Reform of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) is underway at the local level after a new state bill offered "safe harbor" under the law for a menu of land use and development reforms.
Report: Impact Fees Add 18 Percent to the Cost of Housing in California
Development impact fees in California triple the national average. A bill in the State Legislature would reform the state's development fees, as one measure in an effort to build more housing in the state.
Zoning Codes, Explained
Looking for a way to describe zoning codes, and their role in city planning, to a newcomer to the field? Maybe start here.
Zoning in Japan Versus Zoning in the U.S.
Japan's system of zoning appears highly capable of fostering mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods. How does Japanese zoning differ from our own, and what factors caused those differences?
The Case Against Rent Control
Rent control is gaining popularity in cities and states around the country. Some economists urge caution when considering this form of tenant protection.
The 'Decolonial Planning' Project
A potentially radical point of view that must be considered by planners: moving the field forward will require soul searching that confronts an overcomes the disposition and exploitation that defined the past and continues to influence the future.
Needed: Better Data on Local Zoning Regulations
It's hard to connect zoning to planning and development outcomes at a national level because very little data exists at that scale.
NIMBYs: The Rare Bipartisan Coalition in the United States
One thing liberals and conservatives can both agree on: opposition to development projects.
HUD Took a Strong Stance Against Local Control and Hardly Anyone Noticed
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development devoted an entire issue of a quarterly newsletter to land use regulations and the idea that local laws are strangling the nation's supply of affordable housing.
Zoning Didn't Stand a Chance Against the Economy in New York's Garment District
Zoning can only be so effective in holding off market forces, according to this column. New York City seems to have finally learned this lesson in the Garment District, but will it inform decisions in other parts of the city?
Concord, New Hampshire to Draft a Form-Based Code
Concord will become the latest city to add a form-based code to its menu of development regulations.
The Law Favors Gas Stations Over Redevelopment in Washington, D.C.
A lawsuit challenges a law in Washington, D.C. that prevents the conversion of full-service gas stations into any other kind of commercial or residential land use.
What Zoning Can and Can't Do
The powers, and the limitations, of zooming are explained in a series of posts on Greater Greater Washington.
Building Boom: Study Reveals Effects of California's 2016 Accessory Dwelling Units Law
Permits have shot up after California passed a landmark law in 2016 to make it easier to permit and construct accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
Vancouver's New 10-Year Housing Strategy Focuses on Rentals
Vancouver is famous for high-rises and a decidedly urban quality of life, but housing prices are still skyrocketing. A new ten-year housing strategy proposes a few drastic measures to rebalance the market's scales.
Advice for Repairing Relations Between Planners and the Public
Planners and the public must improve their relationship, according to this article.
Manhattan Community Group Resists 'Super Tower'
Plans for an 800-foot tower have attracted well-funded opposition from a community group. Its campaign to regulate the structure's height has spiraled into a big fight.
Opinion: Forget Zoning, Houston Needs a Floodplain Ordinance
Zoning might not have saved Houston from Harvey, but a strong floodplain ordinance would have, according to an opinion piece published in the Houston Chronicle.
Housing Construction in Seattle and Vancouver a Study in Contrasts
Planning is only one ingredient of the cocktail that produces new housing, but planning should bear in mind all the other factors influencing the process. Vancouver and Seattle provide case studies and sharp contrasts in housing outcomes.
Op-Ed: To Lower Housing Costs, Make it Cheaper and Easier to Build Housing
The argument in the headline, put more specifically: inclusionary zoning, fees, legal challenges, and minimum apartment sizes are counter-productive. The only policy that will add housing stock, is to make it much cheaper to add housing stock.
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.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Caltrans
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
