Planning

Maryland's Purple Line Clears Final Legal Obstacle
A third lawsuit tried to halt the Purple Line light rail project in Maryland, but it was just the latest lawsuit to get tossed by a judge.

Key Considerations for Urban Demolition Planning
Demolition can be a lot of fun for the people holding the sledge hammers and swinging the wrecking balls, but demolition is serious business with a large number of significant social and environmental consequences.

Lessons from Pandemics: Comparing Urban and Rural Risks
Many people assume that infectious disease risks make cities dangerous, but this is generally untrue. Other factors have more effect on pandemic risk and mortality rates, making cities safer and healthier than rural areas overall.

Planning More Important Than Ever During the Pandemic
The work of planners might seem unimportant during the pandemic, according to this article, but some of the skills and expertise of planning are more important than ever.

L.A. Department of City Planning Goes Remote
Los Angeles Department of City Planning Director Vince Bertoni shares the status of the planning department and the daily challenges of providing public-facing service and community meetings under social distancing orders.

Watch: 'Planning and Health in the Time of COVID-19'
Listen in as planners discuss the response of the profession to the coronavirus pandemic in California.

Digital Design Review Approved in Seattle
Emergency legislation has cleared the way for a virtual design review process to keep the wheels of the development industry moving in one of the nation's fastest growing cities.

Decision on Sidewalk Labs' Plan for Toronto Waterfront Delayed
The spread of the coronavirus has delayed one of the most closely watched planning projects in North America.

Cities Should Take Advantage of Low Car Traffic to Accelerate Transit Construction
Beverly Hills is taking advantage of empty streets by accelerating construction on the Purple Line Subway extension currently cutting its way across Los Angeles. More cities should follow Beverly Hills' lead.

How Coronavirus Will Change Cities, From Public to Private Lives
Changes are coming, but they don't have to be anti-urban, and they could mean a more resilient world for cities and communities of all shapes and sizes.

Will Infrastructure Planners Become Responsible for Facial Recognition Systems?
Facial recognition offers both benefits and risks. Planners can have a role in ensuring more of the former than the latter.

New Online Collaboration Tool, Designed for Effective Pandemic Policy
The Smart Cities Council has launched the "Activator - COVID-19 Mitigation Roadmap."

More Details for Planners on the Federal Stimulus Package
As the U.S. House of representatives approved the passive stimulus package approved by the U.S. Senate earlier in the week, more details emerged about the parts of the bill that will be relevant to planners during the coming weeks and months.

Planners and Pandemics: Identifying Problems and Providing Solutions
Planners are professional problem solvers. Let’s see how our methods can be applied to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Downtown L.A.'s First 'Re:Code' Community Plan Embraces Density and Affordability
Vince Bertoni addresses his city’s efforts to incentivize affordable housing and noted the responsibility shared at the state, regional, and local level for policy & regulatory change to incent provision of affordable housing.

Local Planning Departments Shutting Down in California
The entire state of California is now on a shelter in place order, but planning desks and public hearings on land use issues were already in the process of shutting down.

A Pittsburgh Bike Plan Preview
Pittsburgh is expected to release its Bike(+) Plan later this year.

What the Future Looked Like Before the Coronavirus
Common Edge surveyed mayors and urban designers for ideas about what the next decade holds in store for cities. There were plenty of challenges in facing the world before the pandemic.

'The Art of Classic Planning' Critiques a 'Century of Bad Planning'
A book review of a book published this year with the title, "The Art of Classic Planning: Building Beautiful and Enduring Communities," offers stinging criticism of the past and present of planning.

Reforming Local Development Regulations for Sustainable Megaregions
Managing development at the scale of megaregions is possible. An excerpt from the recently published book, "Designing for the Megaregion: Meeting Urban Challenges at a New Scale," written by Jonathan Barnett, explains how.
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.
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