Blog
-
October 13, 2025
Managing AI Build-Out in a Winner-Take-Most World
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: AI may seem like something that happens on a screen, but it’s "deeply physical" with clear stakes for local communities. The data centers that help train and serve AI models and the energy generation, storage, and transmission facilities necessary to power these data centers present a very tangible set of tradeoffs to host communities. -
September 12, 2025
What Happens When Zoning Meets 'Privatopia'?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Are HOAs a major barrier to zoning reform in your community? -
August 11, 2025
Could Your Zoning Be Doing More to Promote Accessibility?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: While zoning reforms that broaden opportunities to increase housing supply are crucial, these aren’t the only reforms that can support human flourishing. In fact, there are many potential ways that we can use zoning to make places, spaces, and homes more accessible to all people, regardless of age, life stage, or abilities. -
July 21, 2025
The Planner's Paycheck: Where We Go from Here
In times of political instability and economic pessimism, planners cannot rely on our work to speak for itself. The final part of this three-part series offers tips to help planners document the specific sources that fund their positions, explore alternative funding sources, and share stories about the value of planning with decision-makers. -
July 14, 2025
Could Transfers of Development Rights Facilitate Coastal Retreat?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Could we use downzoning in combination with voluntary transfer of development rights programs to move development away from flood-prone coastal areas? -
July 7, 2025
The Planner's Paycheck: A Foundation Based on Disruption
The decisions federal, state, and local officials make about how to pay for planning have consequences not only for the future of the profession but also for the long-term health of the communities we serve. Part 2 of this three-part series takes a closer look at how three previous disruptive periods affected funding patterns for local planning work. -
June 23, 2025
The Planner's Paycheck: Where the Money Comes From
As federal policy shifts threaten core planning-related programs, pandemic-recovery funding ends, and the specter of economic recession looms larger, it's time for planners to take a close look at the sources of funding that pay for their positions. Part One of this three-part series explores how we pay for planning now and reviews some warning signs we've seen through the first half of 2025. -
June 11, 2025
You Can't Be Family Friendly Without Being Childcare Friendly
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Zoning may not be the primary regulatory tool for childcare facilities, but that doesn't mean it isn't an important tool for expanding access to childcare. -
June 9, 2025
Disaster-Proof Your Planning: Using Emergency Management Phases to Tackle Uncertainty
The phases of emergency management can be a useful framework for preparing and coping with threats to local planning activities. -
May 19, 2025
When It Comes to Large-Scale Solar, One Size Does Not Fit All
When APA and ICMA launched Solar@Scale in late 2020, relatively few communities referenced large-scale solar energy systems in their zoning codes. Nearly five years later, zoning regulations for community- and utility-scale solar energy systems are much more common, we are seeing the emergence of more nuanced regulatory approaches. -
May 15, 2025
A Fresh Look at Incentive Zoning
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: It isn't 1959 anymore. What are the keys to an effective modern incentive zoning scheme? -
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? -
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 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 12, 2025
Turn Down the Lights
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Is it possible to balance human health and public safety in outdoor lighting regulation? -
January 13, 2025
How Risky Is Your Freight Corridor Zoning?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Could a risk-based approach to managing development along freight rail corridors help communities balance safety and growth? -
December 12, 2024
Aiding the Small Farm Evolution
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Small farmers must adapt to survive. How can zoning help? -
November 12, 2024
Bringing ‘Hidden’ Suburban and Exurban Housing into the Light
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Developers are already building subtly mixed residential communities in suburban and exurban areas. Could zoning do more to support build-to-rent and multigenerational housing? -
October 9, 2024
What to Do When the Map Doesn’t Match the Text
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Zoning map-to-text mismatches may be more common than you think. But planners can help prevent and fix these discrepancies. -
September 11, 2024
When More Participation Isn’t Better
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: What can planners do to "right-size" public participation in land use approval processes? -
July 15, 2024
Should Zoning Play a Bigger Role in Promoting Biosafety?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Should zoning be part of our defense against deadly pathogens and biological toxins? -
June 14, 2024
Is Your Zoning Ready for Greener Death Care?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: How does your zoning code treat water-based cremation, human composting, and conservation cemeteries? -
May 13, 2024
Take Notice of Zoning Notifications
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Are your zoning notification practices reaching anyone other than the "usual suspects"? -
April 22, 2024
Manufacturing Affordability
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: The important role of manufactured housing in supporting housing choice, availability, and affordability. -
March 13, 2024
Big Batteries Are Changing the Energy Landscape
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Is your community ready for battery energy storage systems to help store the sun? -
February 9, 2024
Can Floating Homes Help Us Dodge Climate Hazards?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Are floating homes part of the solution to rising sea levels and more frequent and severe storms? -
February 2, 2024
Now Is the Time to Plan for Our Solar-Powered Future
Solar energy is on its way to being the dominant source of power, but a smooth transition isn't guaranteed. Check out the new third edition of the Solar@Scale guidebook for fresh guidance on planning for utility- and community-scale solar development. -
January 12, 2024
Harnessing the Power of Patterns for Zoning Reform
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Can pre-reviewed plans, pattern books, and pattern zones pave the way to broader missing middle housing reforms? -
December 13, 2023
Disaster Resilience Strategy and Leadership Vary Widely Among States
New research finds some have taken steps to plan and adapt, but others are lagging -
December 11, 2023
Can Zoning Save Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH)?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: What role can zoning play in shielding naturally occurring affordable housing from redevelopment? -
December 6, 2023
The Continuing Evolution of Complete Streets
December 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the first official use of the term "Complete Streets," learn about key trends and influencing factors that will continue to shape the Complete Streets of the future. -
November 13, 2023
Tribal Zoning? Well, It’s Complicated
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: How can planners help tribal authorities apply zoning to "checkboard" reservations? -
October 11, 2023
Are We Close to Automating Zoning?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Can generative AI take the drudgery out of drafting zoning regulations? -
September 12, 2023
Who’s That Knocking at Your Door?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: How equitable are your zoning regulations for home occupations? -
August 14, 2023
Whose Status Quo Should Zoning Protect?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: How can zoning protect historically disadvantaged and vulnerable neighborhoods and business districts? -
July 18, 2023
Futureproofing the Planning Profession
Learn about the skills and approaches planners will need to future-proof the profession. -
July 10, 2023
Small Churches Equal Big Opportunity
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Does your zoning allow new housing on faith-based land? -
June 9, 2023
Is Creativity the Key to Better Staff Reports?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Could "right-brain" thinking unlock the potential of your staff reports? -
June 7, 2023
The Importance of Intergenerational Communities
Multigenerational and age-friendly communities create a vehicle to bring generations together; reduce age segregation and ageism; decrease social isolation, depression, and loneliness; and improve community infrastructure and facilities. -
May 10, 2023
Should States Shrink Zoning?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Is state preemption of local zoning the answer to the housing crisis? -
April 25, 2023
When It Comes to Large-Scale Solar, Show, Don't (Just) Tell
There's no substitute for a good visualization when it comes to demystifying large-scale solar development. -
April 12, 2023
Can You Zone Drone Use?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: How might communities apply zoning concepts to regulations for drone operations? -
March 10, 2023
What's in a (Street) Name?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: How do street naming and addressing regulations affect planning goals? -
March 6, 2023
Plan Now to Overcome Reflexive Opposition to Large-Scale Solar
Reflexive opposition to large-scale solar projects is on the rise in many parts of the country. Start planning now to avoid the reactive trap. -
February 16, 2023
It's Perilous to Ignore “Gentle” Zoning Reforms
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Could subtle zoning changes make a big difference in your community? -
January 24, 2023
Updated Large-Scale Solar Guidance from Solar@Scale
Is your community ready to have a conversation about large-scale solar development? Check out the new second edition of the Solar@Scale guidebook for a comprehensive discussion of local policies and actions that can affect the siting and design of community- and utility-scale solar facilities. -
January 13, 2023
Demystifying the Zoning Reform Process
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Is your community overdue for a new development code? -
December 12, 2022
Queuing Up Drive-Thru Zoning Reforms
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: What does a sensible approach to zoning for drive-through services look like? -
November 11, 2022
Don’t Sleep on Coliving
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Your zoning code probably isn't ready for modern coliving communities. -
October 26, 2022
Planning With Nature at the Center
The vision of life in a biophilic city is one where we are not separate from nature, but intimately embedded within it.
Showing 1 - 50
of 78
Next >