PLANNING NEWS

Public Input Opens on $42M Oak Ridge Restoration Plan

Officials seek community feedback on a draft plan to restore natural resources lost to contamination across the 37,000-acre Oak Ridge Reservation. $42M grant drives process.

161 Units Open in Knoxville: Income No Barrier, Developers Say

A new 161-unit apartment complex in Knoxville welcomes residents regardless of income. Officials tout inclusive housing. Critics question sustainability.

AI Powers Smarter Cities: From Chatbots to Infrastructure Insights

Cities are turning to AI for public engagement, street maintenance, tree health, digital twins, and more. Tools now scan dashcam images, optimize routes, and anticipate needs.

Paris Lowers Ring Road Speed — Pollution, Noise Drop

After cutting speed limit on Paris ring road, city sees less traffic, lower NO₂, quieter sound fields.

NSW Pushes New Planning Law That Could Bypass Oversight

Proposed NSW laws fast-track projects by weakening environmental and public review protections.

Stamford Greenlights New Plan Despite Density Concerns

Stamford approves new comprehensive plan blending density near transit and heritage protection.

Florida Law Called “Worst Home Rule Violation” Draws Fire From Local Governments

A recently passed state law is being labeled the “worst violation of home rule” by cities claiming it strips their power over local regulation. Local governments in Florida are mobilizing legal challenges.

$2.2B Solar Plant Turns Off: Ivanpah’s Cautionary Tale

The Ivanpah solar facility in California, once billed as a cutting-edge clean energy breakthrough, will shut down in 2026 after years of underperformance, high costs, and environmental backlash.

Bellingham Retires 434 Subarea Plans — But Will It Silence Neighborhood Voices?

Bellingham planners want to retire 25 neighborhood plans (434 subareas) to simplify zoning, but residents worry — at what cost to community voice and local identity?

Brightline Grant Yanked — Martin County’s Rail Dreams Hit Roadblock

The federal railroad agency rescinded the grant program that would’ve funded a Brightline station in Martin County. The county must reapply, pushing timeline uncertainty and political friction.

States with Multiple Carcinogens in Tap Water: A New Map Reveals Risk

A recent map reveals many U.S. states have drinking water supplies contaminated simultaneously by several cancer-risk chemicals—like chromium-6, arsenic, PFAS. Water safety alert underlined.

FDOT Eyes Extending SunRail Into Polk County

FDOT is studying a possible extension of SunRail from Osceola into Polk County, with potential stops in Loughman, Davenport, Haines City. A public workshop is set, environmental & design studies underway.

Port Tampa Bay Kicks Off 2nd Phase of Massive Channel Deepening

Port Tampa Bay will deepen its 40-mile shipping channel from 43 ft to 47 ft, add 60 acres for terminals, and reclaim dredged material for beaches. First construction phase due by 2028, total cost ~$1.1B.

Rail Travel Surges in the U.S.: Amtrak & Infrastructure Get a Boost

Since 2019, Amtrak’s capital spending has more than tripled. Many projects underway—from tunnels to station upgrades—as rail ridership and investment boom.

New Haven’s “Vision 2034” Plan Clears Board, Awaits Final OK

New Haven’s Vision 2034 (220-page guide) approved by Board of Alders; City Plan Commission review due. Focus: affordable housing, zoning reform, public space, equity.

"Heinz Award" Spotlights Zoning Reform Leader in Hartford

Sara Bronin wins $250K Heinz Award. Her zoning reform work in Hartford—removing parking mins, legalizing multifamily, mapping nation-wide rules—gets national recognition.

California Bill to Let Developers Build 9-Story Homes Near Transit Wins Big

New law allows up to nine-story housing near major transit hubs, bypassing single-family zoning restrictions. Big win for housing supply; worries over local character and control.

Bihar Launches 1,300 Urban Projects—India Scales Up City Upgrades

Bihar’s chief minister is inaugurating 1,300 urban projects today, signaling a push to modernize infrastructure and services across multiple cities statewide.

Seattle Tightens Tree Rules, Sidesteps Bigger Housing Play—for Now

Seattle advanced strict tree protections while punting on broader housing expansion, exceeding state minimums in some areas but leaving mixed-use flexibility on the table.

San Antonio’s Green Line Faces Lawsuit Over Sales-Tax Deal

A conservative advocacy group sued San Antonio, arguing its sales-tax transfer to VIA for the $480.8M Green Line BRT illegally delegates fiscal power to an unelected board. (Post image; Alexander Jones (happy5214) - CC4 - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Richmond’s “Code Refresh”: Zoning Rewrite Puts Density, Schools, and Open Space on the Table

Richmond’s planning director fielded residents’ questions in a Reddit AMA on a sweeping zoning overhaul—more housing, new open-space protections, and coordination with schools.

Oxford Street’s Car Ban Trial Kicks Off: London Bets on People, Not Traffic

London begins a trial to ban vehicles on a 0.7-mile stretch of Oxford Street—framing it as the start of a “fightback” to rescue one of the world’s busiest retail corridors.

VIA’s “Silver Line” Rapid Bus Cost Jumps $33M

San Antonio’s planned Silver Line rapid bus route just got pricier—costs rose $33 million due to unexpected road, utility, and sidewalk work. Full funding isn’t in place yet.

Federal Funds on the Line for Boston & Chicago Transit

The U.S. threatens to withhold transit funding from Boston and Chicago unless safety improvements are made for riders and workers. A warning issued days after similar pressure on NY transit agencies.

Manchester Parkade Rises Again: 232 Housing Units Locked In

Redevelopment of Manchester’s Broad Street Parkade is moving forward with 232 units planned. Developer has financing interest, site plan due Sept 22; construction could begin in Spring 2026.

Chandigarh Revives Underpass Plan After 18 Years

Chandigarh is reviving an 18-year-old plan to build vehicular underpasses at nine major junctions to ease traffic, aligned with its Master Plan 2031 and Comprehensive Mobility Plan. Move aims to reduce congestion and improve mobility.

Gowanus Superfund Rezoning: Toxic Waters to Homes & Hubs

Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal is being cleaned up and rezoned: 8,500 homes expected, 3,000 affordable, plus new studio spaces. Pollution remediation still ongoing.

Richmond’s Zoning Rewrite Could Unlock New Density in Single-Family Areas

Richmond, VA is updating its zoning code to allow denser housing (mixed-use, small buildings) in neighborhoods long limited to single-family homes, aiming for walkability and equity.

San Francisco’s “Family Zoning” Plan Clears First Big Hurdle

SF’s Planning Commission approves “family zoning” rezones allowing 36,000 homes in historically resistant neighborhoods. Critics warn of gentrification; supporters say it’s key to housing and inclusion.

Hawaii Community Eyes ‘20-Minute City’ for Kalaeloa

Kalaeloa (HI) is being proposed as a 20-Minute City: mixed-use neighborhoods, multi-modal access, and homes + services within a 20-minute walk or bike ride. It’s aimed at transforming the area of ~1000 housing units.

Connecticut Towns Clash Over Affordable Housing Under 8-30g Law

A 70-unit housing proposal in Easton/Trumbull, CT, using state’s 8-30g law, is meeting resistance from locals upset about density, scale, and character—even though it’s near transit and amenities.

San Francisco Pushes Family Zoning, Battles Character and Equity Concerns

San Francisco’s “family zoning” plan aims to create 36,000 homes by rezoning low-density neighborhoods. Supporters see opportunity; opponents warn of displacement and loss of community character.

Lansing’s Modular “Pod City” Offers a New Path on Homelessness

Lansing, Michigan is developing a “pod city” with small modular units to shelter people experiencing homelessness. It’s a stopgap measure but signals how cities are trying new housing forms amid crises.

Greece Overhauls Planning: Centralizing Urban Departments to Tackle Corruption

Greece plans to centralize urban planning functions under a new state-run cadastre, aiming to curb local corruption and improve consistency in development control.

San Francisco’s “Family Zoning” Plan Aims to Add 36K Homes—If It Can Survive Backlash

San Francisco is pushing to add up to 36,000 homes in low-density neighborhoods via a new “family zoning” plan. Supporters say it’s needed to meet housing goals; critics warn it risks displacement and character loss.

Keel Crossing: A Bridge That Means More Than Getting Across

Sunderland’s new pedestrian bridge isn’t just for walking—it’s a reminder of shipbuilding heritage and a connector of communities across the river.

When Homes Crowd Out Play

Across England, children are losing access to outdoor play—because planning still prioritizes housing over places to simply be.

Tennessee Planners Unite at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs This October

TAPA’s 2025 Fall Conference brings planners, engineers, students, and leaders together October 20–22 in Franklin for deep dives on housing, multimodal transport, tech, and more—plus CM credits and real‑world inspiration.

Adelaide’s New Parking Mandate: Bigger Garages, Bigger Homes?

South Australia proposes mandatory parking rules—one spot per 1‑bedroom, two per larger home, bigger dimensions, optional shared precincts. Could spike housing costs.

Maharashtra Goes Digital: Land Bank to Unlock Affordable Housing

Maharashtra’s new housing policy includes a digital land bank with geo‑tagged state land to accelerate affordable development—marrying tech and supply.

CNU Florida Sparks Conversation on Urban Future

Planning pros are in Tampa this week for the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), exploring ideas that could transform Florida's urban landscapes.

Invisible Trouble: NYC’s “Ghost Cars” Haunt Street Safety

Cars with fake, mismatched, or missing license plates—dubbed “ghost cars”—rack up fines, speed through school zones, and avoid tolls, costing NYC tens of millions annually and defying enforcement.

Public Transit, Shrinking—RIPTA’s Cuts Hit Hard

RIPTA approved service reductions on 46 of its 67 bus lines—scaled-back cuts, but still historic. Riders and advocates warn of a transit “death spiral” as ridership, equity, and access take hits.

When Jobs Aren’t Enough—San Antonio Demands More from ‘Project Marvel’

Labor, educators, and community activists in San Antonio are pushing for a stronger community benefits deal tied to the multi-billion-dollar Project Marvel development and new Spurs arena.

Campus Dreams on Pause

The University of Melbourne is shelving its new Fishermans Bend campus—planned for engineering, design, and advanced manufacturing—due to budget shortfalls and slowed infrastructure development.

San Antonio’s Push for Real Benefits in Arena Redevelopment

Labor unions and educators rallied to demand affordable housing, transit investment, and livable‑wage jobs in San Antonio’s downtown arena redevelopment.

China’s New Urban Blueprint: Livable Cities by 2035

China aims to shift from rapid growth to quality living, prioritizing green housing, care services, and ecological resilience across its cities by 2035.

Heat Maps That Actually Mean Something

Meter‑scale AI models now reveal which urban streets boil under summer sun—making heat stress visible, actionable, and deeply human.

Cooling Cities: Green Space as Climate Justice

With heat rising, U.S. cities are turning to trees, gardens, and shade to protect vulnerable neighborhoods.

Waterfronts Get a Climate-Ready Makeover

U.S. cities are transforming industrial waterfronts into resilient public spaces, blending flood protection with parks and culture.

California Pushes for Sweeping Zoning Reform

A new bill could reshape California housing by unlocking mid-rise apartments, cutting red tape, and holding cities accountable for growth.

Trump Deputies Seize Control of D.C.’s Planning Commission

Federal planning in the nation’s capital shifts sharply as Trump loyalists take over the NCPC, sparking fears about design integrity and long-term vision.

Bhopal’s ₹599 Crore Urban Makeover

Bhopal embarks on a ₹599 crore urban revamp—metro launch, water infrastructure, gateways, pipelines—signaling a big-city makeover.

Sydney’s Density Plan Meets Resistance

Sydney wants to build over 340,000 homes near transit, but heritage concerns and just 2% affordable housing are sparking widespread backlash.

Local Planners Left Navigating in the Dark

State and local governments face a planning crisis as federal data collection disappears—making everything from disease forecasting to resource allocation a guesswork game.

Beijing’s Rain Reckoning: Sponge Cities Still a Drop Short

When floods that dropped a year’s worth of rain in one week expose gaps in “sponge city” planning, resilience becomes more than a buzzword.

UN Dialogue on Urban Planning Kicks Off

Global planners gather at Innovation Summer Season to share creative solutions for sustainable cities.

Gujarat Launches AI-Driven Permit System

ODPS 3.0 uses AI and blockchain to streamline building approvals and cut red tape in Gujarat, India.

Nearly $500K for Urban Design in Arkansas

Nonprofit offers free urban design services to Northwest Arkansas communities worth nearly half a million.

Pentagon City’s Urban Makeover

Amazon’s HQ2 helped transform Pentagon City into a walkable, mixed-use hub with vibrant public spaces.

Boston’s Density Dilemma

Red tape and NIMBY opposition continue to stall housing growth in Boston, despite urgent demand.

Bluesky Unveils Tree-Canopy Monitoring Tool

New geospatial tech tracks tree cover and soil permeability, helping planners assess flood risk and green infrastructure.

Why Vienna Is Turning Parking Into Parks

Vienna lets residents convert parking spaces into tiny community oases with city support. A simple shift that redefines how streets are used.