Planning Magazine Fall 2026
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In this special issue, Planning dives into artificial intelligence (AI). The cover story examines the complicated land use, community, and legal challenges planners face as data centers multiply, while a series of essays explores how AI is shaping the profession. Readers can choose their own adventure, learning more about low-stakes tools to try, ethical concerns, governance ideas, or even imagining a day in the life of a planner in the year 2040. Meanwhile, in the Intersections and Tools sections, we home in on the impact of the biggest housing law in a generation, an innovative shade plan, creating teen third spaces, and ways to talk about resilience.
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Table of Contents
Feeding the Beast Behind the Tech
Data centers force practitioners to balance economic development, placemaking, land use, and resource stewardship. PLUS: Why you can’t “just say no” to data centers.
Where Are We Going, and How Will We Know We Are There?
Tom Sanchez, PhD, AICP, reflects on the promise and risk of AI. PLUS: Planners’ thoughts on the technology.
The Underused Lever for Buying AI
Establishing procurement standards can help cities understand AI products and services.
Launch into a Low-Stakes LLM
Three tools to learn AI programs in an open-weight environment.
Is Your Public Feedback Under Attack?
AI agents are showing up in public comments and influencing decisions.
Explore the Ethics of AI
Use this set of prompts to explore how you would respond to AI dilemmas.
We’re at a Critical Inflection Point
The profession will certainly change, but it is more durable than it appears.
How AI Changed the Direction of My Firm
It’s all about the planning ecosystem.
A Day in the Life of a Planner in 2040
Four fictional scenarios ask the question: Who owns the climate fix?
INTERSECTIONS
Housing: What new legislation means for you
People Behind the Plans: How to talk about resilience
Et Cetera: An ode to childhood independence
TOOLS FOR THE TRADE
Resilience: Phoenix’s innovative shade plan
Infrastructure: Teen third spaces
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Contributors
Perspectives: AI doesn’t change planners’ values
Community Green: New York City’s Delacorte Theater