Blogs

May 7, 2024

Engaging Youth: 2024 Planners' Day of Service

Planners' Day of Service at APA's 2024 National Planning Conference, focused on youth engagement in planning, including the launch of the Girl Scouts of America "city planning" patch.

May 6, 2024

Journey Toward Better Decision-Making Using Digital Twins

Digital twins are having a moment — becoming more and more part of the built environment zeitgeist as planners look for ways to visualize and better design their communities.

May 3, 2024

Five Career Planning Steps for Everyone

The importance of creating a five-year career plan and seeking guidance from experienced colleagues.

May 2, 2024

Will We Zone For Transit?

Uncovering JAPA: Explore how transit-oriented development (TOD) emerged as a crucial strategy in curbing urban sprawl with the 2023 Montreal light rail project.

train lines and highway running through urban area near shoreline

May 1, 2024

Building More Resilient Transportation Networks With Big Data

Sponsored content from Geotab ITS. By using contextualized transportation data to improve infrastructure equity, efficiency, and sustainability, we can help states and nations strengthen their resiliency.

May 1, 2024

Key Findings From the 2023 APA Member Equity Survey

Overview of key findings from APA's 2023 member equity survey.

April 23, 2024

Hardening the American Landscape

Uncovering JAPA: Explore the diverse policy options for local leaders to curb hardscape expansion during rapid infill, emphasizing the importance of modeling local factors and utilizing machine learning techniques to mitigate environmental risks.

April 23, 2024

APA Welcoming Environment Work Continues

APA is committed to establishing, maintaining, and protecting a welcoming environment. After launching the APA Welcoming Environment Initiative and a Code of Conduct for NPC in 2023, our work continues in 2024. Expect more guidance and resources later this year.

A siding-clad manufactured home on a wide lot with well-manicured tropical landscaping.

April 22, 2024

Manufacturing Affordability

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: The important role of manufactured housing in supporting housing choice, availability, and affordability.

Power Imbalances in a Failed Smart City Development (blog featured image)

April 18, 2024

Navigating Quayside: Lessons in Smart City Planning

Uncovering JAPA: Explore the challenges faced in public-private partnerships using Toronto's Quayside project.

April 17, 2024

As Seen at NPC24

Catch up on all that happened at NPC24 in Minneapolis, April 13-16, 2024.

April 17, 2024

Connecting at NPC24

A variety of opportunities allowed NPC24 attendees to connect during the conference.

April 11, 2024

Why Minnesota Needs to Protect the 2040 Plan

Minnesota needs to protect the 2040 Plan to maintain its position as a national leader in housing supply and zoning reform, which is crucial for addressing the housing attainability crisis and ensuring housing equity and affordability across the state.

April 11, 2024

Planning for Dollar Stores

Uncovering JAPA: Explore the challenges and opportunities posed by the rapid expansion of dollar stores, addressing the issues related to food access and community vitality.

What You Need to Know About Housing (blog featured image)

April 5, 2024

FY24 Spending Package: What You Need to Know About Housing

APA Public Affairs staff break down the support for housing and zoning reform in the FY24 spending bill and what it means for planners.

April 4, 2024

Learning from Ad Hoc Mixed-Use Partnerships in Toronto

Uncovering JAPA: Explore the evolution of Creative Mixed-Use (CMU) development in Toronto, emphasizing the critical role of cross-sectoral partnerships and the challenges faced during this transformative process.

March 29, 2024

Planners Can Integrate Climate Migrants

Uncovering JAPA: Explore climate migration, as researchers discuss depictions of "climate havens" and "welcoming cities," and offer insights for planning inclusive communities.

March 26, 2024

Digital Community Engagement: Unlocking Local Knowledge

Sponsored content from Maptionnaire: Digital community engagement offers flexibility and accessibility. The web-based approach overcomes geographical and temporal constraints, allowing community members to share experiences, suggest ideas, and voice concerns at their convenience, regardless of when or where.

March 21, 2024

Housing Assistance and Mental Health: Testing the Direct Association

Uncovering JAPA: HUD two housing program: vouchers for private landlords and public housing.

March 14, 2024

Residents’ Changing Perspectives on Disaster Resettlement

Uncovering JAPA: In Tacloban City, Philippines, holistic restoration, community empowerment, site development, transparent communication, and flexible participation are emphasized in post-disaster relocation efforts.

March 13, 2024

Big Batteries Are Changing the Energy Landscape

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Is your community ready for battery energy storage systems to help store the sun?

March 11, 2024

Women Advocates for Quality Housing

Two women were early trailblazers in ensuring the availability of safe, quality and affordable housing.

March 5, 2024

Overcoming Misinformation to Implement a Road Diet

Amidst a yearslong project to make a roadway safer in Bellingham, Washington, planners had to contend not just with the challenge of reducing lane widths but also with misinformation being spread about the project.

February 29, 2024

D7 Design Retreat in Kansas City

The top seven design organizations will convene in Kansas City, Missouri, for the D7 Retreat to discuss industry challenges.

February 28, 2024

5 Federal Zoning Reform Bills Every Planner Should Know

Five federal zoning reform bills, endorsed by APA, that every planner should know.

February 15, 2024

Long Beach’s Approach to Youth Advocacy in Planning

Uncovering JAPA: Long Beach invests in Youth, establishing a Global Model with the Office of Youth Development.

February 9, 2024

Can Floating Homes Help Us Dodge Climate Hazards?

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Are floating homes part of the solution to rising sea levels and more frequent and severe storms?

February 8, 2024

The Need for Greater Transparency in Financialized Rental Housing

Uncovering JAPA: Montreal's rental housing financialization to promote transparency in policy decisions for fairness.

February 7, 2024

Empowering Students: Student Representatives Council 2024 Leadership Goals

Bianca Mers, the new chair of the Student Representatives Council outlines three goals for 2024 focused on empowering leaders, amplifying voices, and fostering career development in planning.

February 2, 2024

Now Is the Time to Plan for Our Solar-Powered Future

Solar energy is on its way to being the dominant source of power, but a smooth transition isn't guaranteed. Check out the new third edition of the Solar@Scale guidebook for fresh guidance on planning for utility- and community-scale solar development.

February 1, 2024

Considering Flood Risk in Development Decision Making

Uncovering JAPA: North Carolina sees rapid new flood risk development, revealing complex socioeconomic factors in risk management.

February 1, 2024

University of Michigan Nexus Hosts Students for New Urban Planning Course

Sponsored content from Nexus at University of Michigan Engineering. Students joined in person and online for the first Scenario Planning for Urban Futures course, where they learned from Robert Goodspeed, PhD.

January 25, 2024

Refocus Heat Action Plans To Mitigate Indoor Heat Risks

Uncovering JAPA: Study finds the importance of prioritizing building improvements over tree planting strategies for mitigating the risk of indoor extreme heat.

January 19, 2024

60 Years of Racial Equity in Urban Planning

Uncovering JAPA: Insightful analysis about racial equity planning to inform planning practitioners' efforts to advance racial and social justice.

January 17, 2024

Reconnecting a City to its Cherokee Culture Through Planning

How an architecture firm connected with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to craft a downtown master plan in Cherokee, North Carolina.

January 12, 2024

Harnessing the Power of Patterns for Zoning Reform

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Can pre-reviewed plans, pattern books, and pattern zones pave the way to broader missing middle housing reforms?

January 11, 2024

Mitigating Flood Risk Through Smart Land Use Practice

Uncovering JAPA: A 20-year study on North Carolina floodplain development underscores the need for evidence-based policies and robust flood mitigation plans.

January 10, 2024

Creating Vibrant, Safe Streets

Equity in Practice: The City of Minneapolis elevated native culture and rebuilt trust by partnering with the Little Earth Residents Association and the Native Youth Arts Collective to improve the safety of 18th Avenue South.

January 8, 2024

The AARP Livability Index Platform: A Planning Resource for Livable Communities

Sponsored content from AARP. Through the AARP Livability IndexTM platform and other livable community resources, AARP seeks to support efforts by planners and APA to help inform policy, increase community awareness and participation, and improve the quality of life for people of all ages.

January 4, 2024

Are Traffic Impact Studies Still "Junk Science"?

Uncovering JAPA: How Traffic Impact Assessments (TIAs) often fail to meet the substantial evidence standard due to flawed, unsubstantial methods.

January 2, 2024

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule Finalized by Biden Administration

The Federal Highway Administration finalized an APA-supported planning rule for greenhouse gas emissions, including the release of a reduction tool to move climate change performance measurement forward.

December 21, 2023

Prioritizing Environmental Justice in Comprehensive Planning

Uncovering JAPA: California plans are analyzed for environmental justice (EJ) incorporation, revealing advancements in BIPOC communities while underscoring the absence of an explicit racial focus.

December 20, 2023

Placemaking by Shredding

Florida intergovernmental agency's Skateable Art Park transforms unused space into skaters’ dream.

December 20, 2023

The Impact of Infrastructure and Workforce Challenges on Local Housing Supply

The Housing Supply Accelerator recently concluded its series of convenings in Atlanta, focused on the need to align infrastructure investments with housing development and address the shortage of construction workers through strategic initiatives.

December 14, 2023

Restorative Pathways: Navigating Healing and Justice in Communities Affected by Spatial Trauma

Uncovering JAPA: Addressing spatial trauma in Black and brown communities, urging today's planners to embrace equitable spatial development through healing approaches.