Land Use

View of downtown Dallas, Texas skyline with skyscrapers against twilight sky.

Dallas Code Reform Makes Way for Missing Middle Housing

The Dallas City Council voted to change the city’s building code to allow up to eight residential units in three-story buildings.

May 15, 2025 - Strong Towns

Close-up on e-scooters parked in painted designated parking area on city street.

E-Scooter Parking: A Guide

How smart planning — and ample designated parking — can end conflicts over shared scooters.

May 14, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Seeing the Better City

Is This Urbanism?

Chuck Wolfe ponders a recommended subscription list of Substack urbanists and wonders — as have others — about the utility of the "urbanist" moniker.

May 13, 2025 - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Close-up of dirty pipe at oil drilling operation.

Mapping Groundwater Risks from Orphan Wells Across U.S. Aquifers

A new USGS study reveals that more than half of the nation’s documented orphan wells lie within aquifers supplying the vast majority of U.S. groundwater, posing widespread risks of contamination from aging, unplugged infrastructure.

May 12, 2025 - EcoWatch

Two children sitting on rock sillhouetted against sky.

Reflections on Representation and Legacy in Parks and Public Service

In a personal reflection for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, planner Clement Lau explores how cultural identity, public service, and a commitment to equity have shaped his career in parks, community planning, and sustainability.

May 12, 2025 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Mobile home park at dusk.

Poor Conditions in Mobile Home Parks Put Residents at Risk

Failing infrastructure, poor water and air quality, and predatory owners endanger the health of manufactured home residents, many of whom are elderly and low-income.

May 11, 2025 - Next City

Modular home being lifted with crane.

Oregon Bill Would End Bans on Manufactured Housing

The bill would prevent new developments from prohibiting mobile homes and modular housing.

May 9, 2025 - Oregon Capital Chronicle

Housing construction in Austin, Texas

Texas Bills Aim to Tackle Housing Affordability

One proposed bill would raise the threshold for neighbor opposition to new development.

May 7, 2025 - The Texas Tribune

Row of two-story homes in Boulder, Colorado.

Proposed Boulder Ballot Measures Call for Impact Fees, Affordable Duplexes

Boulder residents are working to put two housing-related proposals on the November ballot.

May 6, 2025 - Boulder Reporting Lab

Austin, Texas skyline.

Austin’s Building Boom Not Reaching Lowest-Income Families

Despite having the highest rate of affordable housing construction in the nation, Austin is still underproducing housing for the neediest households.

May 6, 2025 - Fast Company

Aerial vew of New Hampshire state capitol with gold dome in Concord, New Hampshire.

New Hampshire House Passes Parking Reform Bill

The revised bill, which caps parking requirements at one spot per residential unit and eliminates exemptions, will go back to the Senate for a new vote.

May 6, 2025 - New Hampshire Bulletin

Black and white photo of refugee camp of small wood cottages in Dolores Park, San Francisco CA after 1906 earthquake.

April Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

A key federal housing assistance program is in peril, Maui tries to balance housing affordability with its tourism-based economy, and a landmark Virginia law could set a new standard for road safety.

May 6, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of downtown Detroit, Michigan at twilight.

Detroit Launches Community Land Trust

A newly created CLT aims to support the building of affordable housing.

May 5, 2025 - The Detroit News

Washington

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing

A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

May 1, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

April 30, 2025 - Next City

Man sitting on bench sillhouetted against golden hour trees in tranquil park.

‘Smart Surfaces’ Policy Guide Offers Advice for Building and Maintaining Urban Tree Canopies

Healthy, robust tree canopies can reduce the impacts of extreme heat and improve air quality.

April 30, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Low view of Glendale Narrows section of Los Angeles River with concrete bottom and cloudy storm sky over head.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience

Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

April 29, 2025 - The Planning Report

Children and adults biking and hanging out on an Open Street closed to vehicles in New York City during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NYC Open Streets Organizers Call for City Support

The number of open streets projects has dropped year after year as volunteer groups struggle to fund and staff them.

April 29, 2025 - StreetsBlog NYC

Wide roadway in Austin, Texas at night.

How Project Connect Would Change ‘The Drag’

A popular — and sometimes deadly — Austin road will exchange car lanes for light rail.

April 28, 2025 - The Daily Texan

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.