Oregon

Replacing State Gas Taxes With Alternative Funding Measures

With gas taxes not keeping pace with inflation, state politicians are looking to eliminate gas taxes in favor of alternatives such as sales taxes, vehicles-miles-traveled fees, and new forms of road tolls.

November 21, 2006 - USA Today

Oregon Struggles With Planning Reform

Much has changed in the decades since the state created its widely lauded planning policies and programs. Now Oregon planners are trying to re-energize the state's residents around planning issues, in order to make needed reforms.

November 10, 2006 - New West

Oregonians Believe Measure 37 Was A Mistake

In 2004, Oregonians passed Measure 37, which gave zoning waivers to longtime property owners. With voters in several other states facing similar measures, a recently released poll shows that most Oregon voters now oppose Measure 37.

November 3, 2006 - Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund

Property Wrongs: Lessons from Oregon

Report by Seattle-based Sightline Institute documents a growing backlash against "property rights" initiatives in Oregon communities deeply affected by Oregon's Measure 37 and implications for western states.

October 13, 2006 - Sightline Institute

Converting Ocean Motion To Energy

Off Oregon's coast, researchers hope to pump electricity from the ocean.

September 18, 2006 - The Christian Science Monitor

Series Covers 'Planning In The West'

A series of articles and reports addressing growth in the Western United States, including Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Idaho and other states.

September 15, 2006 - New West

Small Oregon Town Cuts UGB Acreage

The city planning commission in the Southern Oregon town of Jacksonville recently passed a motion to reduce the acreage of a proposed urban growth boundary to more accurately reflect the town's population growth trends.

August 29, 2006 - Mail Tribune

Learning From Portland: Linking Land Use And Transportation

A film documenting Portland's success in moving people from cars to public transportation is airing on British television.

August 20, 2006 - BBC

Fire Escapes Are A Thing Of The Past

Extinguished by renovations, regulations, and rust, the old metal fire escape veers towards obsolescence.

August 10, 2006 - The Oregonian

Portland's 'Vision Vessel'

An unorthodox project encourages the residents of Portland to participate in the shaping of their city.

August 9, 2006 - Metropolis Magazine

100,000 Visions For Portland

The City of Portland's mayor has undertaken an effort to get input from more than 100,000 residents about what they want Portland to be. The city's alternative weekly paper, The Mercury has outlined its own vision for Portland's future.

August 4, 2006 - The Portland Mercury

Oregon's Property Rights Law Is Being Tested By Landowners

Measure 37, Oregon's landmark property rights law, is set to transform a state renowned for its rigid land use policies designed to preserve forests and farms while containing cities, much to the disappointment of the state's planners.

July 28, 2006 - The New York Times

The Experimental Home

A new, sustainably-built home seeks produce as much energy as it consumes.

July 26, 2006 - The Oregonian

Minnesota Cities Say No To Cul-De-Sacs

Cul-de-sacs remain popular with homebuyers (and therefore developers), but some American cities are taking steps to limit or even prohibit their use.

July 21, 2006 - Smart Growth Online

Flexcar Exec Discusses The End Of Portland Subsidy

Bill Scott, director of the Flexcar car-sharing program in Portland, discusses the city's decision to end its subsidies to the company and to charge Flexcar for all the parking revenue the program denies the city.

July 6, 2006 - Nate Berg

Report Links High Car Crash Fatalities To Sprawl

The Cascadia Scorecard documents an emerging body of research indicating that car-centered urban design contributes to a high death and injury toll from car crashes and a high obesity rate, among other ills.

June 23, 2006 - Sightline Institute

Northwest Cities Become Whiter

In downtown Seattle and Portland, white gentrification leads to black flight to the suburbs.

June 21, 2006 - The Washington Post

Oregon Could Charge Gas Tax By Mile, Not Gallon

Hybrid cars and fuel efficient motors are using fewer gallons of gas, a trend expected to decrease revenues from per-gallon gas taxes -- the main funding for road-building. The proposed system would track drivers' mileage with on-board GPS devices.

June 14, 2006 - The Seattle Times

Brownfields - Redevelopment Opportunities Of Last Resort?

In built-out areas of Oregon, the only remaining developable land is on often located on contaminated brownfields, although in some cases the government has stepped in to provide funding for clean up.

June 11, 2006 - OregonLive

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.