Planning Directors

Oregon

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.

September 26, 2017 - Josh Stephens

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.

August 28, 2017 - CBC News

Suburban Arizona

America's Largest Suburb Flirts With Urbanization

John Wesley leads the charge to introduce urbanism into mega-suburb of Mesa, Arizona.

May 18, 2017 - Josh Stephens

Baltimore

New Planning Initiatives Strive for Equity in Baltimore

The Planners Across America series visits Maryland for an interview with Baltimore Planning Director Tom Stosur.

March 23, 2017 - Josh Stephens

new Mexico

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.

March 6, 2017 - Josh Stephens

Myriad Botanical Garden - Oklahoma City

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.

February 27, 2017 - Josh Stephens

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.

January 5, 2017 - The New York Times

Detroit Skyline

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.

December 20, 2016 - The Detroit Free Press

Bradenton Florida

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.

October 29, 2016 - Bradenton Herald

Stanley Park Vancouver

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.

August 11, 2016 - Daily Hive

Columbus

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.

March 3, 2016 - Josh Stephens

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.

January 5, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Philadelphia

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.

October 12, 2015 - Josh Stephens

San Francisco Street

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.

September 21, 2015 - Josh Stephens

Vancouver Skyline

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.

August 13, 2015 - The Globe and Mail

Indianapolis Street

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.

April 30, 2015 - Josh Stephens

Pittsburgh Skyline

'Heroic' Transformations Targeted by Pittsburgh Planning Director Ray Gastil

Pittsburgh Planning Director Ray Gastil was profiled by Pittsburgh Magazine.

April 28, 2015 - 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.

January 7, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

Denver Union STation TOD

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.

October 27, 2014 - Peter Park

Public Meeting

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?"

October 15, 2014 - PlannersWeb

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.