Blog
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May 21, 2026
Landmark Housing Legislation Advances: U.S. House Passes 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives in a 396-13 vote on Wednesday, May 20, marking another significant step forward for federal action on housing solutions for communities nationwide. -
May 20, 2026
Planner Profile: Meet Sarah Lucas, FAICP
Sarah Lucas, FAICP, the director of the Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity, is dedicated to supporting rural communities in the state. -
May 19, 2026
Integrating Art and Creativity Into Public Engagement
Thousands of planners convene each year in a designated host city for the American Planning Association's (APA) National Planning Conference (NPC). The Planners' Day of Service provides visiting planners with an opportunity to make a positive impact on NPC's host community. -
May 18, 2026
AI and Knowledge Work: Critical Thinking
While AI in knowledge work presents opportunities for growth and upskilling, the use of AI may also lead to overreliance or other changes to the way we do our jobs and work with communities. Understanding both the pros and cons of using AI in planning work is essential for making informed decisions about integrating it into the workplace and job descriptions. -
May 18, 2026
Housing Supply Accelerator Convenes to Drive America’s Housing Comeback Forward
Planners, homebuilders, realtors, and city leaders gathered in Detroit on Friday, April 24, to share what’s driving America’s Housing Comeback. With an agenda focused on land use and zoning reform and their impact on local housing systems, experts provided what’s worked for them in their communities and how they got there. -
May 14, 2026
Would Your Zoning Let Vertical Farming Grow?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Planners and local officials can remove unintentional zoning barriers to vertical farming by establishing clear use permissions for intensive indoor agricultural operations and tailoring zoning standards for vertical farming to its specific operational characteristics. -
May 12, 2026
Thank You AICP and APA!
After an amazing weekend in Detroit at the American Planning Association’s (APA) National Planning Conference (NPC26) in Detroit, I feel compelled to say thank you to the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and APA. I can’t imagine where I would be without either of them. -
May 11, 2026
Recognizing APA Presidential Award Recipients
Honoring the recipients of the 2026 APA President Awards. -
May 6, 2026
No Place to Stop: What Truck Data Reveals About the Parking Gap
Sponsored Content from Altitude by Geotab: New data reveals where and when truck drivers park on ramps due to limited authorized spaces. Learn why planners should view parking as a critical safety and infrastructure need, not just a convenience. -
May 4, 2026
The Silent Signal: What the Insurance Crisis Means for Planners
Explore how climate-driven insurance market failures (canceled policies, soaring premiums, insurer exits) are reshaping where housing is viable and argues that planners must treat "insurability" as a key input to land-use decisions, equity, and managed retreat planning. -
May 4, 2026
Tips for Maintaining Capacity in Planning to Avoid Burnout
Get tips for how to manage capacity to help prevent burnout in the workplace. -
April 29, 2026
NPC26 Cruises into the Motor City
Nearly 4,000 people converged in Detroit for the American Planning Association's (APA) 2026 National Planning Conference (NPC26). -
April 26, 2026
The State of the 'States': Housing Top of Mind
Across this year's State of the State addresses, governors described housing shortages and rising costs as constraints on workforce availability, household stability, and local economies. -
April 25, 2026
Planner Profile: Meet B Danielle Schulte, AICP
B Danielle Schulte, AICP, is a senior planner with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and an avid hiker. -
April 23, 2026
Planner Profile: Meet Kyle Shiel, AICP
Kyle Shiel, AICP, is a principal planner at the Capitol Region Council of Governments and a self-proclaimed "lifelong map nerd." -
April 22, 2026
From the Field and the Academy: JAPA Honors Its 2025 Award Winners
Each year, the Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA) recognizes the papers and authors that best exemplify the journal's commitment to research that is useful to practicing planners, policymakers, scholars, and students. -
April 21, 2026
Detroit is Showcased to Nearly 4,000 Planners
NEWS RELEASE: APA's premier 2026 National Planning Conference (NPC26) will bring the largest gathering of planners to Detroit to explore what's working and what comes next. Special events include an exclusive screening of the Detroit documentary, "Resurgo." -
April 20, 2026
Write it Down: Journaling as a Tool for Personal Resilience
A journaling practice does not need to be complex or burdensome. Learn the benefits of starting a journaling practice and how it can help planners and others in high-demand professions. -
April 14, 2026
Are We Being Smart About Smart Growth?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Planners can be smart about smart growth by modernizing adequate public facilities (APF) rules to incorporate context-sensitive level-of-service (LOS) standards that align with a broader range of community objectives. -
April 13, 2026
Make New Connections at NPC26 During APA Divisions Fair
Designed to help planners quickly find their professional community, APA Divisions Fair is a one-stop shop where NPC26 attendees can meet representatives from all 25 APA divisions and seven interest groups in one place. -
April 10, 2026
Dispatches from New Zealand: Why Global Exchange Matters More Than Ever
Petra Hurtado, PhD, APA’s chief foresight and knowledge officer, shares highlights from the New Zealand Planning Institute’s annual conference held in March 2026. -
April 9, 2026
From Pop-up to Permanent School Bike Lanes
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how a Miami case study on recurring pop-up protected bike lanes revealed strong community support, improved school traffic operations, and advanced exploration of permanent infrastructure for safer student travel. -
April 6, 2026
The Digital Accessibility Time Bomb: Leveraging AI to Accelerate Compliance
The previous two parts in "The Digital Accessibility Time Bomb" series established the scope of the accessibility problem (Part 1) and the institutional barriers that prevent easy solutions (Part 2). This final part turns to what might actually work: AI tools that can help planners create and remediate accessible documents at a scale that manual processes cannot match. -
April 6, 2026
Don’t Wait for a Vacancy: Start Succession Planning Now
Succession planning isn’t just a future concern. It’s quickly becoming one of the most urgent challenges facing planners today. -
April 3, 2026
New Executive Order Aims to Remove Regulatory Barriers to Housing
President Trump signed a new Executive Order, Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction, directing a range of federal agencies to reduce regulatory obstacles to new housing development. Take a deeper look into the impacts on local planning. -
April 2, 2026
What Federal Mandates Mean for Local Green Infrastructure
Uncovering JAPA: Federal mandates shape local green infrastructure, with Cleveland emphasizing social and environmental justice, while St. Louis focused on demolition and cost, showing performance and budget often drive decisions. -
April 1, 2026
Chicago Planners Infill West Side Train Station After 75 Years
Transportation planners in Chicago and Cook County are hoping a new infill elevated train station on the city’s west side can be a catalyst for future growth. -
March 26, 2026
More Than Just Tree Canopy: Assessing True Shade Access
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how digital tools for urban tree planting often focus only on canopy cover, overlooking social, environmental, and access factors that determine who truly benefits. -
March 24, 2026
22 APA Members Selected as 250 Government Champions
Twenty-two APA members were selected as part of the 250 Champions, in honor of the America 250 celebration. This honor recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact in their work. -
March 23, 2026
The Digital Accessibility Time Bomb: Navigating Institutional Barriers
Planners should expect to face institutional barriers as they seek to promote compliance with web accessibility standards. Preparing talking points for conversations with decision-makers and adding contract provisions to planning-related vendor agreements can help planners navigate some of these barriers. Part 2 of 3. -
March 23, 2026
Elisabeth May Herlihy: A Matriarch of Urban Planning in Boston
Elisabeth May Herlihy was a pioneering planner, opening the door for women in the planning profession and left a lasting impact on the profession. -
March 20, 2026
Senate Advances Landmark Housing and Zoning Reform Bill
The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly approved sweeping housing supply legislation with the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The action marks the latest step forward on Capitol Hill toward enacting major housing legislation. -
March 16, 2026
From Kitchen Tables to City Hall: Making Planning Accessible and Personal in Danville
PLAN Danville’s 2024 comprehensive plan was shaped by a women-led team that prioritized accessible, community-centered engagement and inclusivity. -
March 13, 2026
How to Avoid Being a (Design) Control Freak
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: What role might objective design standards play in streamlining development approvals? -
March 12, 2026
What Can Planners Give Back to the Land?
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how planners can confront colonial legacies and climate change by treating land as a living entity, integrating Indigenous knowledge, and fostering reciprocal relationships with more-than-human life. -
March 9, 2026
The Digital Accessibility Time Bomb: A Reality Check on WCAG Compliance
The 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. -
March 9, 2026
New Executive Order Targets Rebuilding and Disaster Recovery
In late January, President Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at stripping California and Los Angeles of permitting authority for rebuilding in areas affected by the 2025 wildfires. The action came amid some media criticism of the pace of rebuilding. -
March 9, 2026
Change the Words, Change the Impact
Self-esteem mentor Dr. Mary Beth Janke challenges you to change your language and embrace empowering speech. -
March 4, 2026
6 Insights for Future Leaders from a Past Chair
It’s time for a new group to lead, and I believe I now can help most by being there to support the new leadership and the organization by sharing what I’ve learned over the past two decades. -
February 26, 2026
Can We Blame Highways for Urban Sprawl? It's Not That Simple.
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how a study of a proposed Portland, Maine, highway shows that new roads don’t automatically cause sprawl and how integrated land use–transportation modeling can guide smarter planning decisions. -
February 23, 2026
Investing Attention Wisely: Rethinking Productivity
By making deliberate choices about where to focus your attention, you can shift from a traditional time management practice to intentional time investment, a more sustainable approach to productivity that supports professional momentum and personal well-being. -
February 23, 2026
Targeted Online Harassment: Are You Prepared?
As public-facing staff deeply engaged in often-controversial community issues, planners are increasingly at risk of facing targeted online harassment. What would you do if you found yourself the victim of such a campaign? -
February 19, 2026
How a Camera on a Car Helped Detroit Challenge the U.S. Census
When Detroit’s enterprise GIS team first launched Detroit Street View (DSV) in 2017, they had no idea the mobile mapping program would help with the city’s U.S. Census challenges — or inspire a Massachusetts police chief to take up a similar project. -
February 18, 2026
Kate Meyer Joins APA as the New Chief Communications Officer (CCO)
APA welcomes Kate Meyer as the new Chief Communications Officer. -
February 18, 2026
Planning Win: Housing for the 21st Century Bill Passes the House
Planning advocates celebrate an early win with passage of the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act (Housing 21) out of the House. -
February 13, 2026
How Can Zoning Foster Neuroinclusive Communities?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Could sensory-aware zoning be the key to fostering neuroinclusive communities? -
February 12, 2026
Lives Are Not the Only Thing That Matters in Hazard Planning
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how planners balance saving lives with costs, equity, and economic tradeoffs in flood hazard mitigation. -
February 9, 2026
Congress Passes Spending Bill for Transportation and Housing
Approval of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) spending bill marks the end of a long and contentious journey that included the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. -
February 9, 2026
Bouncing Back After Job Loss: Advice from Those Who’ve Been There
Major career disruptions often require stepping back, separating emotion from logic, and making a clear plan focused on what you can control. Planners who have recently been in this position share what they went through to aid those currently going through it. -
February 9, 2026
Free Data Science Tools for Mid-Career Planners
Planners are increasingly expected to leverage technological advances to provide data-driven guidance to decision-makers. Seasoned planners can take advantage of free self-directed and open-source data science courses and texts to build new hard skills and stay current in the field.
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