Sprawl

Steptoe Butte State Park

Defending Washington's Growth Management Act

Washington state's 1990 Growth Management Act (GMA) is facing a renewed round of attacks from Republican legislators in the state. A post on The Urbanist says the latest bills designed to weaken the GMA go further than other recent examples.

February 3, 2017 - The Urbanist

Burnsville, Minnesota

New Urbanism Emerged in Response to Sprawl, but Does it Really Offer an Alternative?

Daniel Trudeau guest blogs about a recent article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

February 1, 2017 - JPER

Boise, Idaho

Farmland Preservation a Hot Topic in Idaho's Most Populous County

As the city of Boise and surrounding communities in Ada County, Idaho continue to grow and sprawl outward, agricultural land in the county may become a thing of the past.

January 4, 2017 - Boise Weekly

Freeway Construction

The Smart Growth Movement: A (Partial) Success

Has the smart growth movement succeeded? It depends how you measure "success."

December 27, 2016 - Michael Lewyn

Rural

King County, Washington Won't Budge on Rural Developments

The city of Snoqualimie's requests to expand in to "rural" King County has been denied.

December 19, 2016 - KUOW

Sprawl

Is There an Environmentalist Case for Sprawl?

Yes, sprawl is still bad for the environment.

December 14, 2016 - Michael Lewyn

Charles County, Maryland

Limitations on Rural Sprawl in Maryland Nixed

Changes in state law that rolls back regulations on septic systems could spark more residential sprawl in Maryland's rural areas.

November 23, 2016 - MyEasternShoreMD

Miami Mall

Pedestrian-Friendly Malls Continue to Gain Popularity

Providence, Rhode Island is one of many cities to get mall-like retail center built with walkability in mind and set around a Plaza.

November 23, 2016 - Providence Journal

Trump Sign

While Rural America Zigged, Suburban Sprawl Zagged

In 2016, Republicans did worse than usual in affluent sprawl suburbs, while gaining a little ground in working-class cities.

November 21, 2016 - Michael Lewyn

Montgomery County

Modernizing Planning Codes in Montgomery County

Subdivision Staging Policy stirs passion and, some hope, progress in the Washington, D.C. suburbs of Montgomery County.

November 10, 2016 - The Washington Post

Infrastructure

The Winners and Losers of Utility Rates

An example from St. Louis County shows one way that sprawl is subsidized by areas closer to the regional center.

October 25, 2016 - nextSTL

Double Texas Rainbow

The Massive Growth Along the I-35 Corridor in Texas

In a Forbes piece, Joel Kotkin details the rapid growth in population and economy (especially jobs) of Austin and San Antonio and the emerging city of San Marcos between the two.

October 21, 2016 - Forbes

Sprawl

Gov. Jerry Brown Condemns State School Bond Measure for Promoting Sprawl

Ten newspapers have joined California Gov. Jerry Brown in opposing Proposition 51, a $9 billion bond ballot measure endorsed by both Democrats, including the lieutenant governor, and Republicans.

October 18, 2016 - Planetizen

Texas Suburb

How Far Will Houstonians Drive for Housing They Can Afford?

New research looks into how commuting times in the Houston area effect on housing prices.

October 17, 2016 - Houston Business Journal

Simi Valley

Urban Containment: Sometimes Bad, Sometimes Not So Much

Some commentators on urban containment treat the issue as all-or-nothing: either strict limits on suburban development are good public policy everywhere, or they are good public policy nowhere. Perhaps a more nuanced view is appropriate.

October 11, 2016 - Michael Lewyn

Phoenix Freeway Interchange

Friday Funny: Sprawl Can't Stop, Won't Stop

Imagine a built environment that starts from a central location of Scottsdale, Arizona, sprawling outwards until it covers 70 percent of all land on Earth.

October 7, 2016 - The Onion

$1 Billion Agrihood Approved Near Orlando, Florida

The agrihood development trend is gaining traction around the country. Orlando County commissioners approved the latest, large example.

October 4, 2016 - Orlando Business Journal

Elfreth's Alley

Against Parking Requirements and Driveways in Philadelphia

Recent suggestions from Philadelphia's City Council threaten the city's rebound and could turn swaths of Philadelphia into suburbia, argues Inga Saffron in a recent opinion piece.

October 4, 2016 - The Philadelphia Enquirer

Lafayette Park

CIAM's Third Way

A blog post comparing the Athens Charter, written by modernist architects in the 1930s, to traditional urbanism and modern sprawl.

September 21, 2016 - Michael Lewyn

Yankee Stadium

Planetizen Week in Review: September 17, 2016

This week featured good news on the economy like it was pre-2008.

September 17, 2016 - Planetizen

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.