Planning Directors

Planning Director Susan Anderson Separates Fact from Fiction in Portland(ia)
Planetizen's "Planners Across America" series continues in the city that put many contemporary best planning practices on the map: Portland, Oregon.
Breaking: Jennifer Keesmaat Leaving Toronto's Top Planning Role
One of the highest-profile planning positions on the continent, and perhaps in the world, will soon be changing hands.

America's Largest Suburb Flirts With Urbanization
John Wesley leads the charge to introduce urbanism into mega-suburb of Mesa, Arizona.

New Planning Initiatives Strive for Equity in Baltimore
The Planners Across America series visits Maryland for an interview with Baltimore Planning Director Tom Stosur.

Planners Across America: Making Albuquerque the Land of Enchantment, Not Confusion
The city of Albuquerque is focused on bringing consistency and coherence to an unwieldy collection of planning and land use regulations. An interview with Albuquerque Planning Director Suzanne Lubar explores the city's approach to the challenge.

Planners Across America: McDermid Manages New Oklahoma Land Rush
Planning Department Director Aubrey McDermid discusses planning's role in the Oklahoma City's ongoing reinvestment and revitalization.
Carl Weisbrod, Head of NYC Planning, Stepping Down
Carl Weisbrod will step down from his position at the head of the Department of City Planning in New York at the end of the month, and the de Blasio Administration has already identified his successor.

A Culture Change Takes Hold at the Detroit Planning Department
For all its troubles, Detroit has undertaken some of the greatest urban success stories of recent years. New leadership at the city's Planning Department is hoping to expand those narratives to long-neglected parts of the city.

The Genesis of a Medium-Sized City's Affordable Housing Strategy
Bradenton, a medium-sized city on the Gulf Coast of Florida, offers a case study in affordable housing policy.

5 Goals for Vancouver's New Chief Planner
Vancouver has a new chief planner, and a former chief planner already has a to-do list for the new guy.

Columbus Bucks Trends, Grows Steadily
The latest installment of the "Planners Across America" series visits Columbus, Ohio, for a conversation with Planning Administrator Kevin Wheeler.
Change of Leadership for Los Angeles' Planning Department
Mayor Eric Garcetti has nominated Vince Bertoni to lead the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. Bertoni is currently the planning director of the city of Pasadena.

Planners Across America: Philadelphia on the Rebound
Garry Jastrzab, executive director of the Philadelphia Planning Commission, explains how a new comprehensive plan and a focus on the public realm guide the city as it searches for a balance between the old with the new.

Crises and Innovation Converge on San Francisco Planning Director John Rahaim's Watch
The latest installment of the Planners Across America series interviews John Rahaim, planning director for the City and County of San Francisco, about the heightened passions and perpetual controversies of planning in the City by the Bay.

Controversy Precedes Departure of Vancouver Head of Planning
Brian Jackson will retire after stepping down from his position as chief planner for the city of Vancouver.

Interview with Indianapolis' Young Gun: Planning Director Adam Thies
The first in the "Planners Across America" series features Indianapolis' Adam Thies, who shares insights into doing more with less, the limits of long range planning at the municipal level, and why planners should be real estate experts.

'Heroic' Transformations Targeted by Pittsburgh Planning Director Ray Gastil
Pittsburgh Planning Director Ray Gastil was profiled by Pittsburgh Magazine.
Washington D.C. Hires a New Director of Planning
Washington D.C. made a high-profile hire to run its Office of Planning: the former director of community and economic development of Salt Lake City, Eric Shaw.

Q&A: A Career at the Cutting Edge of Long Range Planning
The following interview, as published in the 4th Edition of the Planetizen Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs, features Peter Park, owner of Peter J Park, LLC and an instructor at the University of Colorado-Denver and Harvard University.

Poll: What are the Most Important Skills for Planning Staffers?
In the second in a series of posts, PlannersWeb recently posted the results of a poll asking: "What are the skills you’ve found most important in serving on a planning commission?"
Pagination
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research