Florida
Medical Marijuana Emerges from the Haze in Florida
A new medical marijuana industry has been on hold in Florida, but permit processing can now begin following a court decision this week that upheld newly-developed regulations.
Have You Spotted Any Rainbow Crosswalks?
These colorful crosswalks, recently installed in San Francisco's Castro District, are spreading. Latest city: Key West, Florida. Another aspect of their attractiveness is price: $4,000 for a four-crosswalk intersection. Guess who paid?

Should You Rent or Should You Buy? Trulia Maps the Question
Real estate website Trulia has released its most recent Rent vs Buy report, breaking down the value proposition of buying a home relative to renting one for cities around the country.
Regulation Not Keeping Pace with the Popularity of Drones
The use drones for planning and its related fields has obvious and immediate potential. So far, however, the use of drones lacks a coherent regulatory framework.
FEMA to States: Want Disaster Mitigation Funds? Then Plan for Climate Change
A policy adopted earlier this year and due to go into effect next March would require states to plan for climate change before they are eligible to receive grant funding to plan for disasters.
Politicos Hope to Speed Up Central Florida's $2.3 Billion Highway Project
Inside the push to speed up the project known as I-4 Ultimate in Central Florida—the $2.3 billion would tear down and rebuild 40 miles of the interstate.
Land Deal Central to Everglades Restoration Efforts at Risk
A long-debated, newly controversial land deal needed to restore water flows to the Everglades is at risk after the regional water district tasked with Everglades restoration supports a plan by Gov. Rick Scott.
'Broken Windows' Policy Targets Bikes—and Race—in Tampa
An in-depth investigation by the Tampa Bay Times reveals that Blacks on bikes are targeted by police as indicators of larger crimes.
Movement on the Walk Score Leaderboard
The newest rankings of the most walkable cities in the United States, courtesy of Walk Score, contains a few surprises along with its standard annual recognition of New York City.

Florida Backs Miami Complete Streets Initiative
The Florida DOT has approved Miami's plan to rework busy Biscayne Boulevard. In the spirit of Complete Streets, vehicle lanes will be reduced and pedestrian/bike spaces expanded.

Inside Tampa's New Urbanism Makeover
The Tampa Bay Times dives into New Urbanism with an interview of Jeff Speck and Dvid Dixon about their work on the $1 billion transformation of Tampa's downtown waterfront.
Exploring the Unique, Threatened Florida Everglades
Fusion has produced a multi-media exposé on the endangered Florida Everglades.

Florida Transportation Official Has Work Cut Out for Him
Florida would seem to be the ideal place for walking and biking. It's flat as can be. But the state developed very much with the car in mind. Billy Hattaway, at the Florida Dept. of Transportation, wants to change that.
10 Projects Critical to Tampa Bay's Future
A column by Robert Trigaux lists ten projects that the Tampa Bay region "can't afford to screw up" if it wants to gain more attention on the national stage.

On the Limitations of Density
Writing for FastCo.Design, Architecture Critic Inga Saffron provides a cautionary tale about density done poorly.
Banned Words at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection: 'Climate Change'
Top officials at the Florida state agency tasked with studying and planning for the impacts of climate change are taking a novel approach to avoiding the issue.
The Impressive Story of Florida's 15-Year-Old Citizen Planner
Dylan Gentile, a 15-year-old resident of DeFuniak Springs, Florida, offers inspiration in the form of proactive, positive engagement with the built environment, and already an impressive resume of accomplishments.
Disney Imagineers' Next Big Thing: 'Avatar' Theme Park in Orlando
The world of Pandora, created by James Cameron for the blockbuster film Avatar, will be the next addition to Disney's Animal Kingdom park in Orlando, Florida.

Where Suburbs Outgrew Core Cities
In some places in the United States, mostly in Florida, some suburban cities have become the big kids on the block.

Miami's High-Rise Orthodoxy Hides a Better Way
Alastair Gordon lambasts Miami's high-end architectural extremes. A horizontal, nature-inspired urbanism might better address contradictions between breezy luxury and inland poverty.
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.
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
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