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Tulalip Tribes Take the Lead on Climate Action
“Being strong and resilient to change is already a part of who we are and how we live.”by: Ben Lubbers November 09, 2021“Being strong and resilient to change is already a part of who we are and how we live.” -
The Digital Accessibility Time Bomb: A Reality Check on WCAG Compliance
by: Ivis Garcia, AICPThe U.S. Department of Justice requires all state and local governments to comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Planners can take an essential first step toward compliance by auditing existing PDFs, project websites, and interactive tools. Part 1 of 3. -
A Community-Powered Plan for Cultural Preservation
From land to language, how Hilton Head Island's Gullah Geechee residents are working with planners to save their culture after generations of displacement.by: Philip Walker, FAICPFrom land to language, how Hilton Head Island's Gullah Geechee residents are working with planners to save their culture after generations of displacement. -
Pattern Zones and Pre-Reviewed Homes
Zoning Practice — January 2024by: Richard Murphy, AICP, Melissa Milton-Pung January 01, 2024This issue of Zoning Practice explores how a pattern approach to zoning, incorporating pre-reviewed building plans, may help communities expand housing choice and affordability. It begins with a brief examination of historical precedents before outlining the key components of a pattern zoning program and highlighting potentially complementary strategies.List price$10.00ZP subscriber$0.00 -
Lessons From Transportation Planners' Pivot to Virtual Engagement
Forced to innovate by the Covid-19 pandemic, experts say these public participation innovations are here to stay.by: Marisa Denker, Adrienne Zicklin Kanter, MSUP October 01, 2021Planners share their experience of shifting to virtual public engagement during the pandemic, noting that some of the changes are here to stay. -
In Two Portlands, Climate Plans Lead to Climate Action
In Oregon and Maine, these same-name cities have cut emissions by 19 percent and 34 percent, respectively. And they're not stopping.by: Madeline BodinImplementation of climate action plans in Portland, Oregon, and Portland, Maine, is steadily moving the needle closer to their ambitious emissions reduction goals. -
Solar@Scale: A Local Government Guidebook for Improving Large-Scale Solar Development Outcomes
Third Editionby: Alexsandra Gomez, David Morley, AICP December 21, 2023This updated guidebook is designed to help local government practitioners—including planners, economic development professionals, local government managers, and elected and appointed officials—make decisions that improve large-scale solar development outcomes. It contains eight related, but semi-independent, modules covering foundational concepts and opportunities to act. -
Placemaking by Shredding
Florida intergovernmental agency’s Skateable Art Park transforms unused space into skaters’ dream.by: Jon DePaolisFlorida intergovernmental agency's Skateable Art Park transforms unused space into skaters’ dream. -
How to Overcome Local Pushback on Climate Action
From cost-benefit analyses to "climate ambassadors," communities are coming together to transcend this politically polarizing issue.by: Brian BarthFrom cost-benefit analyses to "climate ambassadors," communities are coming together to transcend this politically polarizing issue. -
What's Blocking an ADU Boom?
Accessory dwelling units are gaining national momentum, but these regulatory and financial hurdles still need to be cleared.by: Adina SolomonAccessory dwelling units are gaining national momentum, but these regulatory and financial hurdles still need to be cleared. -
Decoding Zoning: How Machine-Readable Zoning Data Bridges Housing Gap
Open Zoning is democratizing zoning codes, allowing anyone to access them as simple visuals for any property or city in seconds, crowdsourcing new ways forward for the bottom-up response to the housing crisis.- Nneka Sobers
- Elizabeth Christoforetti
- Alyssa Brandt, AICP
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Revitalizing Communities: Housing as a Powerful New Tool
Case studies drawn from “struggling” communities—from a Florida suburb to rustbelt and gateway cities—demonstrate how proactive policies to expand mixed-income housing can serve as a powerful tool to achieve challenging equity, economic development, environmental, and placemaking community-wide goals.- Alison LeFlore, AICP
- David Dixon
- Eric Johnson
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The OTHER MN Code Everyone Is Talking About
This session will feature Rochester’s Unified Development Code and will provide strategies around how to reform local zoning to successfully encourage housing affordability/availability along with a real example of how to gain public support to advance planning best practices.- Ryan Yetzer
- Jenny Baker
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Immerse Yourself! Youth and XR Master Planning
Explore Mesa, Arizona's use of VR/MR to create new engagement strategies, starting with youth and civic planning. These immersive technologies bring abstract concepts like TOD and climate-adaptation to life, allowing for experiential understanding and participatory decision-making across diverse groups.- Sarah Bassett
- Nicholas Pilarski
- Bruce Meighen, AICP
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Mapping the Fiscal Dimensions of Land Use Policy
Imagine having the ability to evaluate the fiscal impacts of development on your agency’s operating budget at your fingertips. Our Esri-based model generates visual and numerical fiscal impacts of new development, from single-lot redevelopment projects to multiple-use plan areas.- Luke Foelsch
- Christine Ma
- Edith Smith
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Imagine 2050: Scenario Planning for the MSP Region
The future is full of uncertainty that can paralyze today’s public actions. In this session, you will learn how the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council is exploring future scenarios to manage uncertainty and coordinate long-range policies and investments.- Dan Marckel
- Heather Sauceda Hannon, AICP
- Baris Gumus-Dawes
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Metrics and Measuring Success in Comprehensive Planning
During comprehensive planning processes, planners often hear concerns about plans being written only to "collect dust on a shelf". This session will describe the Kansas City, Missouri's efforts to modernize comprehensive planning and provide more awareness and transparency through implementation.- Morgan Pemberton, AICP
- Gerald Williams, AICP
- Joshua Boehm, AICP
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State Trends and Momentum for Housing Reform
In 2024, the pace and impact of state housing reform continued to accelerate. At least 20 states acted on housing supply. As state action grows, experts will examine the policy reforms, politics, and impacts on planning from around the country.- Kiley Chapley
- Cameron Rifkin
- Charles Gardner
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Bettman Session: Reforming Zoning: State Responses to the Housing Crisis
As housing affordability reaches all-time lows, state legislatures are increasingly looking to reform zoning laws to encourage the construction of more market-rate and below-market-rate housing. These reforms are forcing planners to reconsider plans and zoning codes or risk legal action.- Aline Fader
- Donald Elliott, FAICP
- Diana Jenkins
- Brian Connolly
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State Leaders Tackling Housing Supply and Zoning Reform
Housing supply and zoning reform are leading the agenda in state legislatures. Learn how state legislators are driving change, building new coalitions, and navigating state politics to enact critical housing reforms. Gain insights on engaging with legislators and supporting state reforms from a planning perspective with a bipartisan expert panel.- Karla Georges
- Jessica Bateman
- Forrest Mandeville
- Steve Elkins
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Preserving Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing
Zoning Practice — December 2023by: Donald Elliott, FAICP December 01, 2023This issue of Zoning Practice addresses how local governments can use zoning to preserve the existing supply of older, modest home. It briefly summarizes housing market conditions that illustrate the importance of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) and presents a range of potential zoning strategies communities could use to slow the loss of NOAH.List price$10.00ZP subscriber$0.00
Designing Everyday Spaces for Playful Learning
PAS Memo 119by: Jennifer Vey, Juanita Morales December 01, 2023This edition of PAS Memo explains the concept of Playful Learning Landscapes and its impact on learning, public space revitalization, and social and civic engagement, highlighting cities that lead on playful learning and offering guidance to help planners implement playful learning throughout their own communities.Nonmembers$10.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00
Digital Twins 101
Developing an effective Digital Twin requires starting with the fundamentals: what, why, and how. In this course, you’ll learn about the benefits, standards, and capabilities of Digital Twins, illustrated by examples of use cases and case studies.- Adam Beck
- Sagar Shah, PhD, AICP
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2026 Trend Report for Planners
by: Petra Hurtado, PhD, Ievgeniia Dulko, Senna Catenacci, Joseph DeAngelis, AICP January 28, 2026The 2026 Trend Report features a list of over 100 existing, emerging, and potential future trends that the APA Foresight team and our Trend Scouting Foresight Community identified as relevant to planning.
4 Zoning Changes That Boost Local Food Security
Zoning reform isn't only about housing. Municipalities can help increase food access with a few tweaks to local land-use law.by: Gina Hervey August 05, 2021Zoning reform isn't only about housing. Municipalities can help increase food access with a few tweaks to local land-use law.
8 Ways to Launch Your Parking Strategy
Curb management relies on a successful parking plan. Here's how your community can start building one.by: Chrissy Mancini Nichols, John Dorsett, AICPCurb management relies on a successful parking plan. Here's everything you need to know to squeeze the most efficiency ― and revenue ― out of every space.
Data Centers Evolved: A Primer for Planners
From zoning to permitting and everything in between, here's what you need to know to set your community up for success for the next generation of digital infrastructure.by: Jacques FluetAs our lives and cities become more connected, a combination of traditional and new "edge" data centers will be required. How can planners prepare for this next generation of digital infrastructure?
How Planning for Birds Makes Our Communities and Economies Healthier
A new book from biophilic design advocate and sustainability expert Tim Beatley takes a global tour of cities reinventing the status quo to support birdlife.by: Lindsay NiemanA new book from biophilic design advocate and sustainability expert Tim Beatley takes a global tour of cities reinventing the status quo to support birdlife.
Achieving Vision Zero in Practice
PAS Memo 118by: Elias Guseman, AICP, Michael Manzella, AICP, Lyndsey Scofield, AICP November 01, 2023This PAS Memo examines how Jersey City achieved its Vision Zero goal of zero traffic deaths in 2022 using mostly tactical, quick-build tools and a safe-system approach that engages multiple disciplines in instituting change.Nonmembers$10.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00
7 Trends Knocking at the Planning Office Door
In today’s complex world, balancing everyday activities, near-term plans, and visioning for the future is more challenging than ever. APA Foresight has got you covered.by: Petra Hurtado, PhD, Alexsandra Gomez July 08, 2021In today's rapidly changing world, it can be tough to stay abreast of all the challenges facing planners. This article explores seven of the most pressing trends for the profession and what they could mean for your community.
Better Metrics for Communicating Planning Agency Value
by: David Morley, AICP, Cassandra JacksonProcess-oriented metrics often fail to communicate the value of planning work to decision-makers and the public. Results-oriented metrics are more compelling but harder to connect to planning agency activities. Planning agencies can elevate the value of their work by developing performance metrics that bridge process and results, aligning daily activities with broader community goals.
Integrating Land Use and Water Planning for a Sustainable Future
Planners and allied professionals should know that when you plan for one, you have to plan for both.by: Heather Hansman July 01, 2021In communities across the U.S., water managers and planners are emerging from the silos they've traditionally operated in to find new ways to work together. The urgency of collaborating to develop resilience in the face of climate change threats is becoming increasingly clear.
Electric Vehicles Are on the Rise. Is Your Community Ready?
What local governments and planners can to do start building much-needed charging networks.by: Daniel VockAs federal and state governments push transition to EVs, planners have a key role to play in building charging networks.
Dementia-Friendly Public Participation
Accessible public engagement tools are key to ensuring the built environment meets the needs of community members with dementia and other disabilities.by: Samantha Biglieri, PhD, M.Pl. June 17, 2021People living with dementia have the right to be included in the communities in which they live. Fortunately, there are several easy, low-cost accommodations practicing planners can make to better engage them in the planning process.
A Decade After Disaster
When a tsunami left Japan’s coastal Tōhoku region devastated, the country prioritized concrete and local control. Ten years later, planners take stock of recovery.by: Michael Fitzpatrick June 01, 2021When a tsunami left Japan’s coastal Tōhoku region devastated, the country prioritized concrete and local control. Ten years later, planners take stock of recovery.
States Consider Source-of-Income Laws to Fight Housing Voucher Discrimination
As the Biden administration looks to expand Section 8 housing assistance, renters, landlords, and local governments grapple with the program's flaws.by: Kristian Hernández June 01, 2021As the Biden administration looks to expand Section 8 housing assistance, renters, landlords, and local governments grapple with the program's flaws.
Using Generative AI to Draft Zoning Codes
Zoning Practice — October 2023by: Norman Wright, AICP October 01, 2023This issue of Zoning Practice introduces key concepts related to the common use of today’s generative AI models and then provides an overview of experiments done to test the current strengths and weaknesses for developing zoning policies at the local level.List price$10.00ZP subscriber$0.00
Historic Preservation and the LGBTQ Community
Understanding the link between same-sex households and historic districts can help planners manage gentrification and protect queer spaces.by: Kelly Kinahan, AICP, Matthew Ruther May 27, 2021The connection between the LGBTQ community and historic districts, and its interplay with community change, has implications for planning practice.
Three Ways AI Can Be a Planner's Friend
by: Ievgeniia DulkoDiscover how AI can help planners streamline routine tasks freeing time for much more important human work endeavors.
How Adaptive Reuse Can Help Solve the Housing Crisis
Zoning reform and flexible buildings codes can transform vacant buildings into affordable housing.by: Tatiana Walk-Morris May 01, 2021Vacant warehouses and offices offer new opportunities for affordable housing. But to help make it happen, planners and policy makers need to remove these regulatory obstacles.
Equitable Zoning for Home Occupations
Zoning Practice — September 2023by: Jerry Adams, Kurt Schindler, AICP, John Wallace, Mark Wyckoff, FAICP, David Morley, AICP September 01, 2023This issue of Zoning Practice explores how zoning regulations can remove unintentional and inequitable barriers to working from home. It briefly examines the reasons why zoning reform is necessary before providing recommendations to help planners draft updated standards that better reflect existing conditions and advance equity in zoning.List price$10.00ZP subscriber$0.00
Music Policy and Planning
PAS QuickNotes 102by: Shain Shapiro September 01, 2023This edition of PAS QuickNotes outlines the components of a music audit and shares examples of how cities around the United States are using music to improve quality of life and achieve economic and social community goals.Nonmember price$10.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00
Using Public Space to Expand Storytelling on the National Mall
New exhibit aims to increase representation by telling important stories of the nation.by: Dina WaltersA new temporary exhibit on the National Mall aims to balance protecting historic spaces while increasing opportunities for more stories to be shared.
Smart City Digital Twins Are a New Tool for Scenario Planning
Digitalization and virtual simulation of entire cities can help planners experiment with solutions to meet complex problems.by: Petra Hurtado, PhD, Alexsandra Gomez April 01, 2021Many plans and policies would benefit from undergoing a test stage before implementation. Up until now, the options to do so have been fairly limited. Smart city digital twins promise to change that by allowing planners to explore solutions in a controlled environment that mimics the real city.
Our Post-Pandemic Future Could Be a Lot Less Car-Centric
Planners are turning open streets pilots and parklet pop-ups into long-term plans for more equitable, sustainable transportation networks.by: David KanerCOVID-19 has highlighted an existing need to rebalance our streets by prioritizing equitable mobility options, not private vehicles. These are the strategies planners are using to make that happen — and for the long term.
Is It Time to Rethink the Property Tax?
It’s the largest local government revenue source, but four economic and technology trends are threating to make property tax obsolete. Here's what that could mean for you and your community.by: Shayne Kavanagh March 18, 2021Technology is driving change that could make property tax obsolete for local governments across the U.S. and Canada. Because land uses are closely linked to property tax, it could have future implications for planners and other land-use professionals.
Nontraditional Housing Types Can Help Solve U.S. Homelessness Crisis
We have tried traditional fixes. It’s time to think outside the regulatory box and move away from traditional stick housing for people who are unhoused.by: Wendie Kellington March 11, 2021Planners are uniquely suited to help start conversations and educate elected officials about nontraditional housing options, and to lay the regulatory groundwork to make modern-day Hoovervilles truly a thing of the past.
Mastering Conflict for Effective Planning: Navigation and Resolution
This webinar will explore key skills needed to manage conflicts in planning work. It will focus on managing relationships and finding the best ways to design meetings for better planning outcomes.- Jennifer Raitt
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Protecting Historically Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Neighborhoods and Business Districts
Zoning Practice — August 2023by: Darcie White, AICP August 01, 2023Establishing protective measures for historically disadvantaged and vulnerable neighborhoods and business districts requires a proactive, community-based approach. This issue of Zoning Practice outlines clear steps those who write, administer, and enforce zoning regulations can take to proactively protect these neighborhoods and business districts.List price$10.00ZP subscriber$0.00
6 Ways to Help Bridge the Racial Wealth Gap
Planners can and should play a pivotal role in advancing equitable economic outcomes.by: Karen Kazmierczak March 01, 2021Planners might not always have the authority to redirect funding to historically neglected communities, but they can still play a pivotal role in advancing more equitable outcomes. Here are six ways to get started.