Blog
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April 28, 2025
What’s Next for Transportation Policy?
The 2024 election results mark unified Republican control of the White House and Congress. Here are some ways planners can expect the administration to chart a different regulatory course for transportation programs and policy. -
April 22, 2025
The Push for Parking Reform
Recent legislative efforts in Washington, Connecticut, Colorado, Minnesota, and Montana highlight a growing movement to reduce or eliminate parking requirements. While each state’s approach varies, the common theme is clear: outdated parking mandates are increasingly an obstacle to housing affordability and sustainable development. -
April 21, 2025
New Ordinance Aims to Boost Sacramento’s Housing Supply
When Nguyen Nguyen, an associate planner in Sacramento, California, began meeting with residents about housing concerns in 2021, he started hearing similar stories. -
April 18, 2025
Recognizing APA Presidential Award Recipients
Honoring the recipients of the 2024 APA President Awards. -
April 17, 2025
New Standards Issued for Regional Economic Development Plans
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has issued new guidance for required Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy plans (CEDS). Learn how these new standards will affect planners. -
April 17, 2025
FEMA Waives Equity, Climate Requirements for Local Mitigation Plans
FEMA has issued new guidance related to requirements for incorporating underserved communities, socially vulnerable populations, and climate change into local hazard mitigation plans. Those sections are now removed from the guide outlining plan requirements. Read more on how this is affecting planning practices. -
April 17, 2025
Eliminating Owner-Occupied Restrictions for Missing Middle Housing
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how allowing private developers to build middle housing is key to making single-family zoning reform effective and expanding affordable housing options. -
April 15, 2025
Have You Cracked the Code on Effective Zoning Engagement?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Why is public engagement around zoning changes so difficult, and what are the keys to effective engagement? -
April 10, 2025
Rethinking the First-Mile/Last-Mile Fix
Uncovering JAPA: Learn how a Milwaukee pilot program challenges the effectiveness of first-mile/last-mile services and reveals the need to center rider input and regional coordination in transit planning. -
April 9, 2025
Managing the Transition From College Student to New Professional
Many emerging professionals struggle with the transition from college to the workforce, facing job market challenges, mental health stressors, and the pressure of starting over in a new environment. -
April 7, 2025
FEMA Suspends Key Pre-Disaster Mitigation Funding
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton issued a memorandum suspending funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The action stops $750 million in planned grants for FY25. Learn how this will impact planners. -
April 2, 2025
NPC25 — The Sights and Sounds
Over 4,300 people made their way to Denver for the American Planning Association’s (APA) 2025 National Planning Conference (NPC25). -
April 2, 2025
USDOT Announces Updated Safe Streets for All Grant Notice
The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program is now accepting applications. -
March 27, 2025
Educational Needs for Disaster Recovery Planning
Uncovering JAPA: Explore how planners can strengthen disaster recovery efforts by embracing proactive roles, utilizing planning tools, and leading recovery initiatives to build more resilient communities. -
March 27, 2025
4 Ways to Use State Funding for Local Housing Supply
As federal funding programs are changed, reduced, or curtailed, localities are increasingly looking to states to supplement finance efforts to produce, preserve, and improve housing supply. Here are four ways to use state funding for local housing action, plus a look at two states that are creating even more opportunities for financing -
March 27, 2025
Finance Tools for Housing Abundance
Despite a shifting political environment, planners can still support their communities in securing funding for local reforms that increase housing abundance. Here are four tips to explore the wide variety of financial tools available, and a look at how some communities are already using these tips to their advantage. -
March 27, 2025
7 Actions for Planners Facing Insecure Federal Funding
A variety of federal grant programs are at risk of losing funding due to recent actions by the Trump Administration, including discretionary programs such as Safe Streets for All, RAISE/BUILD grants, and Reconnecting Communities. Here are 7 actions for planners to take when federal grant funds in their communities are in jeopardy. -
March 27, 2025
DOT Rescinds Guidance to States – Here’s What It Means for Planners
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun to undo a variety of directives from the Biden administration that guided state and federal infrastructure investments. There are potentially troubling signs that progress through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in areas like biking, pedestrian safety, and environmental impacts may be jeopardized. -
March 25, 2025
New Executive Order Targets Community Development Financial Institutions
President Trump signed an Executive Order targeting the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund for elimination. -
March 24, 2025
Continuing Resolution Averts Shutdown
In mid-March, Congress passed H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Extension Act, which President Trump signed into law, stopping a potential government shutdown. -
March 24, 2025
U.S. EPA Announces Sweeping Deregulatory Agenda
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced an agenda to formally reconsider more than 30 existing rules and regulations. Administrator Zeldin called the effort “the biggest deregulatory action in American history.” -
March 24, 2025
How Can YOU Help Protect Federal Grants?
Grant programs from all agencies, including those coming out of the U.S. Department of Transportation grants (USDOT), may be frozen or even taken back due to perceived inconsistency with new guidance from the Trump administration. The new guidance will also change the eligibilities and criteria for future rounds of grants. Here’s what you can do. -
March 24, 2025
New Federal Direction to Communities on HUD Disaster Recovery Funds
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released an updated notice on how communities can plan and use funds for disaster recovery under the CDBG-DR program. -
March 22, 2025
Transforming Perceptions About the Everglades and Wetlands
Marjory Stoneman Douglas' groundbreaking advocacy for the Everglades preserved its vital ecosystems and influenced sustainable urban planning practices that continue to guide communities today. -
March 20, 2025
The Case for Rental Registries: Uncovering Ownership
Uncovering JAPA: Learn about rental registries and their role in improving housing transparency while addressing legal and privacy concerns. -
March 19, 2025
Building for Tomorrow: States Take Action on Housing Reform
While the nation navigates the latest executive orders and highly anticipated bipartisan action on the federal level, state leaders are taking action now to enable the reforms communities need to boost supply. Increasingly, governors are bringing local leaders together with housing policy experts – including planners – to determine ways the state can pave the way for local housing action. -
March 17, 2025
Leveraging Urban Data Storytelling to Create Change in Your Community
Sponsored Content from UC Berkeley + University of Toronto. Earn CM credits by participating in the Workshop in Urban Data Storytelling, a training program to help planners leverage data analysis and storytelling to advance local urban initiatives. -
March 13, 2025
Tiny Home Micro Communities Helping to Shelter Denver's Unhoused Population
How the planners got creative with the city's zoning code and built community coalitions to create housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness. -
March 13, 2025
When's the Right Time to Rezone Abandoned Strip Malls?
Uncovering JAPA: Learn more about how the rise of e-commerce and how remote work has led to an oversupply of retail space, revealing a zoning mismatch that urges planners to rethink and repurpose vacant retail areas for more sustainable uses. -
March 12, 2025
Let’s Make This ‘Shouse’ a Home
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Is there is an emerging typology of unconventional homes in rural and exurban areas, and are local development regulations frustrating efforts to build these homes? -
March 6, 2025
Transportation Workers’ Perspectives on ADA
Uncovering JAPA: Despite ongoing ADA compliance challenges, especially in transportation infrastructure, emphasize the need for a system-wide approach, greater support, and expanded education to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities. -
March 3, 2025
Wait, Who Approves Large-Scale Solar Siting?
Determining which agency ultimately has the authority to approve the siting of a new large-scale solar facility can be complicated. About half of all states have have established explicit limits on local siting authority, offer certain developers a way to bypass that authority, or maintain a parallel siting process. -
February 27, 2025
Ethics of AI-Enhanced Planning
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how AI-enhanced planning can drive urban development while requiring planners to tackle biases, ensure transparency, safeguard privacy, and engage communities to promote ethical and equitable outcomes. -
February 25, 2025
Well-Being at Work: Finding a Job that Values Mental Health
Figuring out whether a potential employer values employee mental health can be overwhelming, but there are ways to prioritize workplace well-being during your job search. -
February 24, 2025
Building Housing and a Cultural Connection in Sacramento
Equity in Practice: The Wong Center in Sacramento, California, offers a roadmap for addressing housing inequities while promoting inclusion and honoring cultural heritage. -
February 21, 2025
Understanding What Environmental Review Executive Orders Mean for Planning
President Trump signed the “Unleashing American Energy” Executive Order (EO). The EO rescinds a 1977 Carter-era order that charged the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) with issuing binding standards and regulations implementing NEPA. -
February 21, 2025
Discover Inspiration at APA’s National Planning Conference
News Release: APA's National Planning Conference heads to Denver providing the latest in planning trends and innovations. -
February 20, 2025
A Community-Created Rubric for Heat Planning
Uncovering JAPA: Explore how the 'HeatReady Neighborhoods' rubric helps planners address extreme heat with an equity-focused framework, optimizing local assets and involving residents in climate adaptation strategies. -
February 13, 2025
Planning is Not Project Management
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how planners can go beyond project management with negotiation, persuasion, and creativity to navigate digital media, advocacy, and development. -
February 12, 2025
Turn Down the Lights
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Is it possible to balance human health and public safety in outdoor lighting regulation? -
February 10, 2025
What's Next for Housing Policy?
Housing policy stands out as both a nationally prominent priority and an area of potential bipartisanship. As the new administration and 119th Congress take office, there’s a strong existing foundation for action on housing and support for planning-led reforms. -
February 8, 2025
In Memoriam: Donald Shoup, FAICP
In Memoriam: Professor, author, and leader of rethinking parking policies, Donald Shoup, FAICP, has passed. -
February 7, 2025
Transforming Kansas City’s Historic 18th and Vine District
Equity in Practice: Kansas City invests in 18th and Vine District to overcome past harms and preserve its cultural heritage. -
February 6, 2025
How Libraries Became Community Resilience Hubs
Uncovering JAPA: Learn how local public libraries act as resilience hubs in the face of economic stressors and extreme weather events — and how planners can support their role in building community resilience. -
February 5, 2025
HUD Announces Second Round of PRO Housing Grant Recipients
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released a second round of Pathways to Reducing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grants. Over $100 million in funding will be distributed to 18 communities nationwide in support of their work to reform outdated and restrictive zoning regulations – a proven approach to increasing housing abundance. -
January 31, 2025
The Connection Between Unpermitted ADUs in San José and the Need for Zoning Reform
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how policymakers are using computer vision to identify unpermitted ADUs in San José — shedding light on informal housing and the barriers to legal construction. -
January 29, 2025
The 2025 Trend Report for Planners Helps Navigate Change and Prepare for an Uncertain Future
Now available from APA, the 2025 Trend Report for Planners. Get insights into more than 100 trends that could have big impacts on communities. -
January 28, 2025
Upskilling Planners for Climate Impacts
An advisory panel helped identify emerging topics and skills that will aid planners in hazard mitigation and climate adaptation as part of APA's partnership with FEMA. -
January 23, 2025
New Congress Brings New Opportunities
With the new year comes a new Congress and new opportunities to strengthen federal support for housing and zoning reform – APA's top policy priority for 2025. -
January 23, 2025
Last-Mile Impacts on Deliveries
Uncovering JAPA: Explore how cities are tackling emissions from last-mile deliveries to reshape urban freight and reduce climate impacts.
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