Land Use

Aerial view of downtown Tampa, Florida with Hillsborough River in foreground

Tampa Working to Reduce Downtown Parking

One-third of the city’s downtown is used for parking while thousands of parking spaces go unused during peak hours.

August 25, 2023 - Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Photo of downtown San Francisco alley superimposed with text bubbles

New Plan Aims to Revive Downtown San Francisco

The proposal focuses on placemaking and street activation as tools for economic development.

August 24, 2023 - Fast Company

Close-up of rows of clear plastic cups filled with cut fruit on outdoor street vendor table

D.C. Passes New Street Vending Rules

The District’s new regulations lower permit fees, reduce barriers to entry for vendors, and decriminalize vending offenses.

August 24, 2023 - Next City

Conceptual rendering of Rikers Island redevelopment as renewable energy facility

Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?

New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?

August 24, 2023 - Mark McNulty

Wood-frame building under construction with robust palm tree in front

Five Years of California’s Landmark Land Use Law, SB 35

It’s been five years since the California Legislature approved Senate Bill 35 to clear hurdles to housing construction. How much of its intentions has the law accomplished, and what should planners look for in the next few years?

August 22, 2023 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Collapsed road on coastal cliff in California

Lessons in ‘Planned Relocation’

How communities can manage climate-induced relocation successfully and equitably.

August 22, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

A pregnant woman holds hand with a man in an urban setting.

Walkable Neighborhoods Connected to Healthier Pregnancies, Births

More evidence of the public health benefits of walkable neighborhoods.

August 22, 2023 - University of New Hampshire

St. Paul Minnesota

Missing Middle Housing Reforms Move Forward in St. Paul

The St. Paul City Council will soon consider a legislative package designed to increase the density of residential neighborhoods, following in the footsteps of its twin city, Minneapolis.

August 22, 2023 - Star Tribune

Alaska

Proposed Zoning Consolidation Scaled Back in Anchorage

A revised, scaled-back version of a zoning reform effort in Anchorage would concentrate the proposed consolidation of residential zoning districts in one part of the city.

August 21, 2023 - Anchorage Daily News

An aerial view of downtown Iowa City.

Iowa City Hopes Zoning Amendments Will Increase Housing Supply, Diversity

Iowa City is planning ahead to ensure that housing supply keeps up with housing demand.

August 21, 2023 - The Gazette

Aerial view of Le Corbusier-designed Cité Radieuse in Marseilles, France.

What Is the City of Tomorrow?

The City of Tomorrow is the English name given to an early work of urban design by Le Corbusier, who, throughout his career, evolved a concept of city planning firmly based in rationality and order.

August 21, 2023 - Diana Ionescu

Massachusetts State Capitol

Massachusetts Pushing Statewide Zoning Reforms With Steeper Penalties for Non-Compliance

Massachusetts is one of the states in the nation requiring local governments to make more space for multi-family housing. Not all local governments are willing to comply, however.

August 21, 2023 - Mass Live

Corner convenience store with red awning and children's rocking horse toy out front in brick building in Queens, New York City

Bring Back the Corner Store

‘Accessory commercial units’ were once common across U.S. towns and cities. Now, zoning regulations make them illegal in many places.

August 20, 2023 - Strong Towns

One of the "Guardians of Traffic" in Cleveland, a scuplture of a large figure adorning a bridge in Cleveland. Downtown Cleveland is in the background.

Parking Requirements Removed Near Cleveland Transit Stops

Transit oriented parking reform has arrived in Cleveland.

August 20, 2023 - Signal Cleveland

Aerial view of farmland patchwork in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Auditor: Toronto Greenbelt Changes Favored Developers

A series of hasty removals of land from the protected Greenbelt last year were pushed through without environmental or financial analysis.

August 18, 2023 - The Globe and Mail

Aerial view of downtown Atlanta, Georgia

Quantifying the Losses Caused by New Freeways

Data shows cities lose millions in potential property taxes when highways displace homes and businesses.

August 17, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Aerial view of the River Seine and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

Meet the New River Seine

The Paris Olympics will highlight the renaissance of the city’s famous river.

August 17, 2023 - World Crunch

View of blurred motion traffic on downtown Salt Lake City street

One-Third of Downtown Salt Lake City Devoted to Parking

A new map highlights prime downtown real estate that could be repurposed for more productive uses.

August 16, 2023 - Building Salt Lake

Red brick historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, Liberty State Park, New Jersey with glass high-rise building in background.

How Transit Villages Are Reshaping New Jersey’s Urban Landscape

Will the Garden State become Manhattan 2.0 in the next 50 years? Probably not. Will it look different from today? Probably yes.

August 16, 2023 - Marcelo Remond

A sign announces the Kingston, New York Historic District

Kingston, New York Goes 100 Percent Form-Based for its New Code

Kingston recently adopted a form-based code, taking the rare step to entirely replace its old zoning code with form-based standards while also repealing parking requirements and allowing accessory dwelling units and missing middle housing.

August 16, 2023 - Times Union

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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.