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Preventing the Extinction of Small Farms
Zoning Practice — December 2024by: Sabrina Torres December 01, 2024This issue of Zoning Practice explores zoning techniques that can help prevent the extinction of small farms. By examining successful case studies and innovative policies, it highlights how strategic zoning can foster communities where small farms in rural and peri-urban contexts thrive and contribute to local food security and agricultural heritage. -
How Planners Can Refocus Their Thinking to Incorporate the Future into Plans
Acquiring the skills of foresight and futures literacy helps planners to confidently prepare for an uncertain tomorrow.by: Patrick Sisson August 17, 2023Acquiring the skills of foresight and futures literacy helps planners to confidently prepare for an uncertain tomorrow. -
5 Housing Trends Planners Can Influence Now
From commercial-to-residential conversions to the rise of coliving, here’s what you should know today for a more equitable tomorrow.by: Joseph DeAngelis, AICP August 10, 2023From commercial-to-residential conversions to the rise of coliving, here’s what you should know today for a more equitable tomorrow. -
A Guide to Community Planning Academies
PAS Report 605by: Donna Carney August 01, 2023Community planning academies offer a model for authentic public engagement, creating an informed and involved constituency of residents who support local planning.Nonmembers$25.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00 -
Robert Goodspeed Plans for Uncertain Futures Using Exploratory Scenario Planning
On local or global scales, XSP broadens planning tools to bring into view the outside forces that shape planning.by: Joseph DeAngelis, AICP July 27, 2023On local or global scales, XSP broadens planning tools to bring into view the outside forces that shape planning. -
4 Tools to Empower Data-driven Planning for Climate and Transportation Equity
Planners can take advantage of the national focus on infrastructure investments to enhance mobility and climate resilience for underserved communities.by: Kelly Dunn, David Wasserman, AICP July 27, 2023Planners can take advantage of the national focus on infrastructure investments to enhance mobility and climate resilience for underserved communities. -
How Cellphone and Fitness App Data is Helping Create Equity in Public Parks
Park planners harness novel data sources and tools to direct equitable conservation, amenities, and access.by: Clement Lau, FAICP July 20, 2023Park planners harness novel data sources and tools to direct equitable conservation, amenities, and access. -
Why Urban Canopies Are Growing as Key Climate Infrastructure
To mitigate increased urban heat and air pollution, cities enlist their trees and forests.by: Alex Brown July 13, 2023To mitigate increased urban heat and air pollution, cities enlist their trees and forests. -
Hiding in Plain Sight: Build-to-Rent and Multigenerational Housing
Zoning Practice — November 2024by: Derrick Rhys Wilson November 01, 2024This issue of Zoning Practice explores how development regulations affect opportunities for build-to-rent and multigenerational housing development. It begins with a summary of suburban housing supply challenges before examining the key features of and potential zoning approaches for two emerging types of subtle mixed-residential development. -
Centering Wellbeing in Community Co-Creation: WIATT and C4C
PAS Memo 121by: Senchel Matthews, Kathryn Reynolds November 01, 2024This edition of PAS Memo introduces the Wellbeing Insights, Assets & Tradeoffs Tool and the Capital for Communities Scorecard, two innovative tools planners can use to harness wellbeing in their community co-creation processes.Nonmembers$10.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00 -
YouTube Influencer Dave Amos Brings Urban Planning to the People
The planner and professor explains how social media can be an informal classroom, how San Luis Obispo uses Instagram effectively, and how his video about Gary, Indiana, went viral.by: Meghan Stromberg June 22, 2023The planner and professor explains how social media can be an informal classroom, how San Luis Obispo uses Instagram effectively, and how his video about Gary, Indiana, went viral. -
Land-Use Policy Could Help Solve the American West’s Water Crisis
As the twin pressures of water shortages and massive growth run the Colorado River dry, planners explore innovative solutions.by: Patrick Sisson June 15, 2023As the twin pressures of water shortages and massive growth run the Colorado River dry, planners explore innovative solutions. -
3 Essential Tips for Planning with Multilingual Communities
Community engagement experts offer tested approaches that prevent tokenism, create trust, and foster a sense of belonging.by: Rebecca Greenwald June 09, 2023Community engagement experts offer tested approaches that prevent tokenism, create trust, and foster a sense of belonging. -
Planning With Artificial Intelligence
PAS Report 604by: Thomas Sanchez June 01, 2023Artificial intelligence can help planners by enhancing current planning procedures, increasing efficiency, and allowing them to refocus their work on the human components of planning.Nonmembers$25.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00 -
Housing Diversity Encourages Age-Friendly, Accessible Communities
AARP’s Rodney Harrell talks about aging in place, ADUs, and how zoning reform can help planners provide housing that meets community needs.by: Brenna Donegan June 01, 2023AARP’s Rodney Harrell talks about aging in place, ADUs, and how zoning reform can help planners provide housing that meets community needs. -
Eliminating Map-to-Text Discrepancies
Zoning Practice — October 2024by: Jonah Pellecchia, Melissa Hayashida October 01, 2024What happens when a zoning map doesn't match the zoning text? This issue of Zoning Practice explores the prevalence, political and legal implications, and types of map-to-text discrepancies. It concludes with recommended actions local planners and public officials can take to eliminate this problem. -
Why We Need Queer Urbanism
Heteronormative planning structures exclude and can even endanger queer people, especially those who are trans and BIPOC.by: Aaron Greiner May 19, 2023Heteronormative planning structures exclude and can even endanger queer people, especially those who are trans and BIPOC. -
Mayor Victoria Woodards Is Making Tacoma a Place to Come Home To
How the local leader uses partnerships, missing middle infill, and the Housing Supply Accelerator to put more roofs over more heads.by: Lindsay Nieman May 02, 2023How the local leader uses partnerships, missing middle infill, and the Housing Supply Accelerator to put more roofs over more heads. -
5 XR Technology Tools That Empower Planners to Connect Vision with Reality
These surprisingly accessible extended reality applications can help planners upskill as they connect with communities, boost stakeholder buy-in, and better plan for uncertainty.by: Sarah Bassett, Andrew Buck, AICP, Nicholas Pilarski May 01, 2023These surprisingly accessible extended reality applications can help planners upskill as they connect with communities, boost stakeholder buy-in, and better plan for uncertainty. -
Doing Public Participation Better
Zoning Practice — September 2024by: Anika Lemar September 01, 2024This issue of Zoning Practice recounts some key flaws of typical public participation processes and, more importantly, proposes some solutions. Some of the proposals described here can be adopted and implemented by city, town, and county staff and commissioners. Others will require changes to state enabling legislation. -
Equitable Community Engagement Requires Learning, Self-Reflection, and Transparency
Five ways planners, engineers, and other allied professionals can establish a long-term, measurable approach to equitable planning.by: Jennifer Fierman, AICP, Kristof Devastey, PE, PTOE, PTP, Lindsay Welsch Sveen, PhD March 23, 2023Five ways planners, engineers, and other allied professionals can establish a long-term, measurable approach to equitable planning. -
Partnerships and Federal Funding Build an Oasis in a Food Desert
Tulsa Economic Development Corporation and partners leveraged federal grant dollars and made community and equity the core of a new grocery store.by: Gary Hamer, AICP March 16, 2023Tulsa Economic Development Corporation and partners leveraged federal grant dollars and made community and equity the core of a new grocery store. -
3 Zoning Reform Success Stories that Reignited Downtown Development
In small and midsize cities, cutting parking minimums and adding by-right development rules catalyze economic development.by: Patrick Sisson March 09, 2023In small and midsize cities, cutting parking minimums and adding by-right development rules catalyze economic development. -
Protecting Zoning Reform Gains
Zoning Practice — August 2024by: Brian Connolly August 01, 2024This issue of Zoning Practice reviews recent legal challenges to state and local zoning reform legislation and offers strategies for planners and their allies who must defend against them. It profiles four specific reform efforts that faced legal challenges, and then offers tips and strategies to help planners implement and defend similar zoning reforms.List price$10.00ZP subscriber$0.00 -
A Mural Expert Shares Community Engagement Wins with Planners
The founder and executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia highlights the brilliance of local artists and the role of murals in maintaining vibrant neighborhoods.by: Meghan Stromberg March 01, 2023The founder and executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia highlights the brilliance of local artists and the role of murals in maintaining vibrant neighborhoods. -
Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Planning Profession Is an Evolving Journey
The Equity in Zoning Policy Guide and Equity in Practice case studies from the American Planning Association help planners move forward on EDI.by: Roberta Rewers February 23, 2023The Equity in Zoning Policy Guide and Equity in Practice case studies from the American Planning Association help planners move forward on EDI. -
10 Principles for Managing Autonomous Vehicles on City Streets
Autonomous vehicles spark questions about safety, accessibility, congestion, and even labor practices, but planners can pull ahead in the AV revolution.by: Jonathan Barnett, FAICP, Zhongjie Lin February 17, 2023Autonomous vehicles spark questions about safety, accessibility, congestion, and even labor practices, but planners can pull ahead in the AV revolution. -
A Practical Guide to Updating Local Regulations for Climate Resilience
Building and zoning codes are a powerful way to advance local climate goals. Try these tactics for proven results.by: Bella Purdy, AICP February 17, 2023Building and zoning codes are a powerful way to advance local climate goals. Try these tactics for proven results. -
5 Climate Tech Tools to Build Community Resilience
APA’s Technology Division shares datasets, applications, and visualizers that can inform and improve climate change planning.by: Lian Plass, AICP, David Wasserman, AICP January 23, 2023APA’s Technology Division shares datasets, applications, and visualizers that can inform and improve climate change planning. -
What Is Zoning Reform and Why Do We Need It?
The case for change, why planners support it, and six zoning reform tactics that could help curb housing costs.by: Patrick Sisson January 18, 2023The case for change, why planners support it, and six zoning reform tactics that could help curb housing costs. -
Advance Environmental Justice Goals with This Innovative Health Data Tool
The City Health Dashboard could help communities meet Justice40 mandates, win funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and improve health outcomes for all.by: Linda McIntyre, AICP December 12, 2022The City Health Dashboard could help communities meet Justice40 mandates, win funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and improve health outcomes for all. -
Intergenerational Community Planning
PAS Report 603by: Irv Katz, Matthew Kaplan December 01, 2022Intergenerational community planning brings together children and youth and older adults for the mutual benefit of both groups and for the community as a whole.Nonmembers$25.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00 -
On-Demand Microtransit: A Rural Solution to Public Transit?
How sprawling communities are using the rideshare model to expand bus access and fill in transportation gaps.by: Jenni Bergal November 10, 2022How sprawling communities are using the rideshare model to expand bus access and fill in transportation gaps. -
4 Data-Driven Tips for Regulating Short-Term Rentals
STRs like AirBnB can generate local tax revenue — but only if municipalities identify them. Here's how.by: Nick Del Pego November 04, 2022STRs like Airbnb can generate local tax revenue — but only if municipalities identify them. Here's how. -
An Equitable Approach to Zoning Notifications
Zoning Practice — May 2024by: Jenny Baker May 01, 2024This issue of Zoning Practice looks at increasing the equity of public notice practices by expanding upon the Equity in Zoning Policy Guide’s recommendations. It examines key equitable or inequitable aspects of conventional notification practices and highlights potential new methods of notice that may enhance procedural and distributional equity.List price$10.00ZP subscriber$0.00 -
Implementation Project Assessment: A New Tool For Implementing Community Plans
PAS Memo 120by: Benjamin Hitchings, FAICP, Philip Berke May 01, 2024This edition of PAS Memo presents the implementation project assessment, a three-step process for identifying the right implementation strategies to advance a community plan in a way that is workable for the sponsor organization and its partners.Nonmembers$10.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00 -
Transform Car-Centric Planning into Pedestrian Streets with AI
Viral Twitter sensation @betterstreetsai is changing streets — and minds — with DALL-E 2, a new artificial intelligence tool.by: Lindsay Nieman October 17, 2022Viral Twitter sensation @betterstreetsai is changing streets — and minds — with DALL-E 2, a new artificial intelligence tool. -
Planning for Biophilic Cities
PAS Report 602by: James Brown, Helen Santiago Fink October 01, 2022A biophilic city connects the science of biophilia — humans’ innate love of and need for contact with nature — and the practice of planning to create built environments that support physical and mental well-being, ecosystem health, and economic sustainability.Nonmembers$25.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00 -
Hurricane Recovery Fails the Financially Vulnerable
Based on a decade of data from Hurricane Sandy, two New York City planners explore the inequities of disaster mitigation and recovery — and what needs to change to prevent climate gentrification.by: Donovan Finn, PhD, Thaddeus Pawlowski September 30, 2022Based on a decade of data from Hurricane Sandy, two New York City planners explore the inequities of disaster mitigation and recovery — and what needs to change to prevent climate gentrification. -
Zoning Reform Creates New Model for Smart Growth in Walla Walla, Washington
How the rural city eliminated single-family-only zoning, legalized ADUs, and relaxed parking minimums to promote housing diversity.by: Patrick Sisson September 21, 2022The rural city eliminated single-family-only zoning, legalized ADUs, and relaxed parking minimums to promote housing diversity. Here's how planners helped get it done. -
Launch an Ethical Ag-Tech Program with These 6 Tips
Controlled-environment agriculture can support local food systems, prioritize equity, and build trust.by: Michelle McCue September 20, 2022Controlled-environment agriculture can support sustainable food systems, prioritize equity, and build trust. -
Equitable Zoning for Manufactured Housing
Zoning Practice — April 2024by: George Frantz, AICP April 01, 2024This issue of Zoning Practice examines the persistent inequitable treatment of manufactured housing in many local zoning codes and offers considerations for code updates. It begins with brief summaries of the important role manufactured housing plays in supporting housing choice and affordability and includes findings from a five-state analysis of zoning regulations for manufactured housing.List price$10.00ZP subscriber$0.00 -
Transportation Strategist Naomi Doerner Navigates Mobility Justice
How the country's first transportation equity manager is building a framework to protect the fair and safe movement of people of color.by: Sophia Burns August 31, 2022How the country's first transportation equity manager is building a framework to protect the fair and safe movement of people of color. -
Boise Increases Affordable Housing Stock through Zoning Reform
As remote workers exacerbate an existing housing shortage, the city makes room for ADUs, manufactured homes, and sweeping zoning changes.by: Erika Bolstad August 29, 2022As remote workers exacerbate an existing housing shortage, the city makes room for ADUs, manufactured homes, and sweeping zoning changes. -
Fast-Growing Vegas Races Toward Energy Efficiency
An unexpected leader in climate innovation, the desert city takes a full-spectrum approach to fortifying water and energy sources.by: Marco Velotta, AICP August 29, 2022An unexpected leader in climate innovation, the desert city takes a full-spectrum approach to fortifying water and energy sources. -
The New Rules of Urban Reforestation
How ReLeaf Cedar Rapids is rebuilding an urban canopy from scratch after a weather disaster with a focus on data and environmental justice.by: Patrick Alvord August 15, 2022How ReLeaf Cedar Rapids is rebuilding an urban canopy from scratch after a weather disaster with a focus on data and environmental justice. -
Battery Energy Storage Systems
Zoning Practice — March 2024by: Brian Ross, AICP, Monika Vadali March 01, 2024This issue of Zoning Practice explores how stationary battery storage fits into local land-use plans and zoning regulations. It briefly summarizes the market forces and land-use issues associated with BESS development, analyzes existing regulations for these systems, and offers guidance for new regulations rooted in sound planning principles. -
From Brownfield to Green Space
Wausau, Wisconsin, combined state, federal, and local funding to create a vital new riverfront.by: Meghan Stromberg July 31, 2022Wausau, Wisconsin, combined state, federal, and local funding to create a vital new riverfront. -
5 Essential Tips for Repealing Parking Minimums
Lessons from Sandpoint, Idaho, the small town that embraced zoning reform to boost economic development and housing production.by: Meghan Stromberg July 31, 2022Lessons from Sandpoint, Idaho, the small town that eliminated downtown parking minimums in 2009 to boost economic development and housing production. -
Ag-Tech Could Help Solve Food Insecurity and Supply Chain Issues
As climate change threatens traditional farming, venture capitalists and communities alike are investing in digital urban agriculture for more localized, all-season food growth.by: Michelle McCue July 18, 2022As climate change threatens traditional farming, venture capitalists and communities alike are investing in digital urban agriculture for more localized, all-season food growth.