Blog
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August 4, 2025
Building Professional Sustainability: Small Habits to Improve Your Ability to Cope with Stress
Personal resilience is not just a professional skill, but a personal practice. Learn eight ways to build your resilience framework to improve your ability to cope with stress by shifting how you process daily experiences. -
August 1, 2025
Senate THUD Spending Bill Ignores Trump Budget, Funds Key Housing Programs
The new Senate THUD bill provides more funding than the House Committee's version. -
August 1, 2025
'ROAD to Housing' is Paved by Planning
The ROAD to Housing Act is the biggest housing package in a generation, made possible through bipartisan compromise and support for local reforms. It marks an important victory in bipartisan federal action on housing. -
July 31, 2025
State-Mandated Climate Planning
Uncovering JAPA: Discover a study of California’s Senate Bill 379 found that flexible, state-mandated climate adaptation planning modestly improved local efforts but revealed persistent challenges in coordination, engagement, and local capacity. -
July 24, 2025
Why Urban Segregation is More Complicated Than We Think
Global Perspectives: Discover how medium-sized cities can experience segregation levels comparable to those of major metropolises, highlighting the need for place-specific planning strategies that reflect local economic, social, and institutional dynamics. -
July 21, 2025
The Planner's Paycheck: Where We Go from Here
In times of political instability and economic pessimism, planners cannot rely on our work to speak for itself. The final part of this three-part series offers tips to help planners document the specific sources that fund their positions, explore alternative funding sources, and share stories about the value of planning with decision-makers. -
July 18, 2025
One Big Beautiful Bill's Impact on Planning
On July 4, President Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR 1). Learn more about the important changes impacting the planning profession. -
July 18, 2025
How Geography Shapes Small Island Developing States
Global Perspectives: Discover how Small Island Developing States (SIDS) use global ties and niche strategies to navigate geographic and economic challenges. -
July 18, 2025
House Bill Maintains CDBG, Slashes Funding for Zoning Reform
The U.S. House of Representatives took the first step toward approving a spending bill covering funding for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD). Find out how this impacts planning. -
July 18, 2025
APA Joins Local Gov 250 to Celebrate Local Government
APA joins national partners to celebrate America's 250th by honoring local governments and their role in building strong communities. -
July 15, 2025
APA Continues to Support Digital Coast Legislation
APA has partnered with NOAA's Digital Coast Program for nearly twenty years. Bipartisan legislation seeks to reauthorize the program and ensure planners can access vital and timely coastal data. -
July 15, 2025
Planners Are the Storytellers Our Communities Need
Over 70 advocates across 27 states nationwide met with members of Congress in both parties to share why their communities need federal support for housing and local zoning reform at APA’s online Planners’ Day on Capitol Hill. -
July 14, 2025
Could Transfers of Development Rights Facilitate Coastal Retreat?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Could we use downzoning in combination with voluntary transfer of development rights programs to move development away from flood-prone coastal areas? -
July 10, 2025
Lessons from Germany’s Urban Logistics Planning
Global Perspectives: Learn how Germany's logistics strategies, from regional planning to rural delivery via public transit, offer planners sustainable, equitable models to address land use, infrastructure, and demographic challenges. -
July 7, 2025
The Planner's Paycheck: A Foundation Based on Disruption
The decisions federal, state, and local officials make about how to pay for planning have consequences not only for the future of the profession but also for the long-term health of the communities we serve. Part 2 of this three-part series takes a closer look at how three previous disruptive periods affected funding patterns for local planning work. -
July 7, 2025
Strategies for Personal and Professional Resilience When Facing Uncertainty
With new and old issues continuing to put stress on planners, personal resilience and support from peers have taken on greater importance. Get advice from several planning directors on how to navigate challenging times. -
July 2, 2025
Colorado Planners Craft Forward-Thinking Housing Policy
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed the Regional Planning Roundtable Commission into law, a landmark measure that prohibits local governments from enforcing occupancy limits based solely on familial relationships. The APA Colorado Chapter was instrumental in the development of this legislation, authoring the bill and working closely to move it through the legislative process. -
June 30, 2025
Rapid Growth Overwhelmed Austin. These Housing Reforms Made a Difference.
The Austin metro was the country's fastest-growing region from 2010 to 2022, according to census data, and housing demand outpaced supply. A series of changes to land use regulations is helping to improve affordability and availability of housing. -
June 27, 2025
Upholding the AICP Credential in Challenging Times
AICP Ethics Officer Ralph Willmer, FAICP, provides an update on how AICP-certified planners can navigate the current political landscape and maintain adherence to the AICP Code of Ethics. -
June 26, 2025
France’s Model for Smarter Cities Through Urban Data Standardization
Global Perspectives: Learn how France improved urban data comparability while preserving local context through standardization, a centralized platform, and public-private collaboration. -
June 25, 2025
High Court Limits NEPA, Adds Momentum to Reform Efforts
A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado, limited the scope of reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and strongly encouraged greater judicial deference to agency reviews and decisions. -
June 24, 2025
One More Lesson: Advice from Professors for Current and Future Planners
Emerging planners may face a future different than what they imagined a year ago as federal policy rapidly changes. Five planning professors offer tips on how to be successful as early-career professionals. -
June 23, 2025
Resilience Advice for Planners from Experts in High-Stress Careers
Planners can learn applicable approaches to managing stress and improving personal resilience from surgeons, therapists, and first responders working in high-stress jobs. -
June 23, 2025
The Planner's Paycheck: Where the Money Comes From
As federal policy shifts threaten core planning-related programs, pandemic-recovery funding ends, and the specter of economic recession looms larger, it's time for planners to take a close look at the sources of funding that pay for their positions. Part One of this three-part series explores how we pay for planning now and reviews some warning signs we've seen through the first half of 2025. -
June 23, 2025
Stormy Forecast For FEMA and the Future of Mitigation Policy
The Trump administration aims to announce a plan to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in late 2025. -
June 17, 2025
Trump Administration Gives Green Light to Autonomous Vehicles
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a new process for approving waivers to vehicle design standards. The move has significant implications for autonomous vehicles (AVs) which require waivers for omitting required safety elements. -
June 16, 2025
Looking Back and Accelerating Forward: Increasing Abundance Through the Housing Supply Accelerator
Reflecting on the success of the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook, a one-of-a-kind guide for boosting attainable housing supply, and the launch of the Housing Supply Accelerator Challenge led by APA and NLC to further support communities. -
June 12, 2025
Understanding Why Residents Remain in Japan's Flood Zones
Global Perspectives: Discover how deep cultural ties, economic constraints, and policy gaps influence why residents in Japan’s flood-prone areas choose to stay, offering planners valuable insights for community-informed resilience strategies. -
June 11, 2025
You Can't Be Family Friendly Without Being Childcare Friendly
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Zoning may not be the primary regulatory tool for childcare facilities, but that doesn't mean it isn't an important tool for expanding access to childcare. -
June 10, 2025
What's Next? Celebrating the One-Year Anniversary of the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook
Reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook and introducing the Housing Supply Accelerator Challenge, a nationwide network designed to accelerate the implementation of proven and innovative housing strategies and expand the supply of housing in communities across the country. -
June 9, 2025
Disaster-Proof Your Planning: Using Emergency Management Phases to Tackle Uncertainty
The phases of emergency management can be a useful framework for preparing and coping with threats to local planning activities. -
June 5, 2025
How Three European Countries Are Modernizing Land Records
Global Perspectives: See how three European countries are modernizing cadastral systems through 3D mapping, public-private collaboration, and AI to deliver more accurate, accessible, and future-ready land data for planners. -
June 3, 2025
State-Based Housing Coalitions Lead the Way to Local Solutions
As housing affordability and supply challenges intensify nationwide, states are recognizing that comprehensive solutions require broad collaboration. In states across the country, coalitions of business leaders, housing advocates, planners, and community members are coming together to craft policies that reflect their communities’ unique needs. -
May 29, 2025
Rethinking Metropolitan Governance for Inclusive Planning in Germany’s Kinzig Valley
Global Perspectives: Discover how Germany’s Kinzig Valley balances rural identity with urban reliance—underscoring the need for planning approaches that integrate small towns into metropolitan governance without erasing their unique character. -
May 22, 2025
House Moves Major Tax Bill Forward
The U.S. House of Representatives passed its 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' in a narrow, late-night vote. For planners, the bill's housing, infrastructure finance, clean energy, and economic development elements are especially critical. Learn about the mixed bag of policies included in the bill. -
May 22, 2025
Land Management in Vienna and Hungary
Global Perspectives: Learn how Vienna and Hungary use effective land management strategies to equip planners with powerful tools for improving affordable housing access and shaping equitable urban futures. -
May 22, 2025
Get Outside! Improve Your Mental Health and Well-Being
Learn how nature can help reduce your stress and improve your mental health and overall well-being, and how much time you need to spend in the outdoors to achieve positive benefits. -
May 21, 2025
State Momentum for Housing Reform: A Q&A With Policy Experts
To explore accelerating momentum to increase housing supply and tackle housing affordability, APA hosted a session on "State Momentum for Housing Reform." The discussion featured expert panelists who examine recent state-level efforts, emerging trends, and where housing policy is headed next. -
May 20, 2025
Missing But Not Gone: New Homes for Federal Data
As federal databases are moved off of government websites, other institutions such as nonprofits and universities are stepping in to preserve and house this data. -
May 19, 2025
When It Comes to Large-Scale Solar, One Size Does Not Fit All
When APA and ICMA launched Solar@Scale in late 2020, relatively few communities referenced large-scale solar energy systems in their zoning codes. Nearly five years later, zoning regulations for community- and utility-scale solar energy systems are much more common, we are seeing the emergence of more nuanced regulatory approaches. -
May 15, 2025
Japan's Approach to Aging Urban Housing
Global Perspectives: Learn how Japan’s approach to aging condominiums offers planners a flexible model for keeping older housing viable amid shifting demographics worldwide. -
May 15, 2025
A Fresh Look at Incentive Zoning
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: It isn't 1959 anymore. What are the keys to an effective modern incentive zoning scheme? -
May 13, 2025
Columbus 'Zones In' on More Housing Amid Population Boom
The effects of the nationwide housing supply crisis were pushing Columbus, Ohio, to the brink. -
May 12, 2025
Tackling Uncertainty: Congressionally Directed Spending Requests
With the new unpredictability of some federal grants, many communities are looking for other ways to drive federal investment into local planning and projects. An alternative, or perhaps a supplement, to either discretionary grants or formula-based funding may be congressionally directed spending, known as “earmarks.” -
May 9, 2025
Dealing With Uncertainty? Here’s How
Learn how to apply scenario planning to help you deal with uncertainty. -
May 9, 2025
Three Ways to Build Your Personal Resilience
Learn how to build your personal resilience when confronted with challenging times or behaviors. -
May 8, 2025
Coastal Planning Lessons from Brazil and Spain
Global Perspectives: Learn how coastal planning balances growth and sustainability through Brazil’s tourism-driven model and Spain’s ecological restoration approach. -
May 7, 2025
Trump Budget Proposes Cuts to Key Housing, Community Development Programs
On May 2, the Trump administration released their Fiscal Year 2026 "skinny" budget proposal outlining funding recommendations for federal programs. Learn more on what planners should expect and APA's response. -
May 5, 2025
Spokane: The Pacific Northwest’s Hidden Gem
Sponsored content from Eastern Washington University -
May 5, 2025
Three Tips for Engaging Gen Z in Planning
Engage Generation Z in planning decisions to create civic engagement and a commitment to their communities.
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