Controversies

Arizona Agriculture

Legislation Would Prevent Rural-to-Urban Water Transfers in Arizona

A plan to sell water intended for agricultural uses to help fuel the development of a city on the edge of the Phoenix metropolitan area has inspired new state legislation.

January 29, 2020 - Arizona Republic

The Bloomingdale Trail

Proposed Development Moratorium Near Chicago's 606 Linear Park Causes Political Spat

Two aldermen want to halt all development activity The 606, also known as the Bloomingdale Trail, in Chicago to slow gentrification near the popular linear park.

January 16, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

Eminent Domain Sparks Protest in Atlanta

Atlanta's worsening housing affordability set the stage for a controversy over the city's use of eminent domain to build a new park and stormwater retention facility.

December 17, 2019 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Chicago, Illinois

Introducing the National Public Housing Museum

The planned National Public Housing Museum, expected to open in 2021, will draw attention to a highly contested subject and connect to the relevance provided by contemporary anxieties about housing.

December 5, 2019 - CityLab

Austin, Texas

Austin to Ban Cars From Popular Street on Weekends

An entertainment district in Austin will soon be the sole province of pedestrians on busy weekend nights.

November 20, 2019 - Austin Statesman

Agricultural Land

Controversial Redevelopment Approved in Coastal Agricultural Area

A city on the northern edge of San Diego County has approved a controversial redevelopment. Supporters tout that agricultural components of the project. Opponents of the project say developers shouldn't be breaking ground in an agricultural area.

November 18, 2019 - ABC 10 News San Diego

Solar Power

Sudden Demise of Solar Project Raises Questions in Ohio

The Ohio Power Siting Board through a wrench in plans for a solar project in southern Ohio, raising questions about the viability of renewable energy in the state.

November 2, 2019 - The Columbus Dispatch

Washington

Luxury Condos, Not Luxury Single-Family Homes, Take the Blame in the Affordability Debate

An article in The Urbanist suggests the ire over new developments is misplaced.

October 31, 2019 - The Urbanist

Air Force One

Updated Designs for Obama Presidential Center Revealed

According to the architecture critic for the Chicago Tribune, the Obama Presidential Center is still falling short of the iconic status that can serve as a landmark for the South Side of Chicago.

October 29, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Colorado

Rapid Growth and a Small Town Recall Effort

A group of organizers in the small town of Elizabeth, Colorado (population 1,700) wants to recall its entire City Council as an act of defiance in the face of rapid change and growth.

October 8, 2019 - The Denver Post

Seattle, Washington

Debating the Future of One of Seattle's Pedestrian-Friendly Gems

The corridor along University Way is currently exempt from the wave of upzoning implemented by the city's Mandatory Housing Affordability program, but that exemption is only temporary.

September 25, 2019 - The Urbanist

A bride and groom riding on citi bikes in New York

Bikelash Strikes Again in New York City

New York City, which earlier this decade ago experienced wild controversy surrounding the addition of bike lanes and bikeshare to city streets, is once again faced with a battle of drivers versus bike lanes.

August 19, 2019 - The New York Times

Emoji Neighborhood

A New Kind of Planning Controversy: the Emoji House

A complaint about an illegal Airbnb, a very visual response, and a headache for city officials in the city of Manhattan Beach, California.

August 18, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Single-Family Neighborhood

Debating the End of Single-Family Zoning in Toronto

A retired city planner takes a position against "lot splitting," or allowing more than one unit on properties zones for single-family residential as it's known in Toronto.

August 7, 2019 - The Star

SoHo Greenwich New York

Conflicting Interests and a Broken Planning System

A scathing critique of city planning, and the special interests that hold the system in thrall, in New York City.

August 6, 2019 - Gotham Gazette

Atlanta, Georgia

$1.9 Billion Public Financing Plan for Atlanta Mega-Project Headed to Appeal

The sage over The Gulch development project—soon to be renamed Centennial Yards—will continue after project opponents filed an appeal of a June court decision upholding public financing for the project.

August 3, 2019 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Downtown Guthrie

The Demonization of Developers

Developers can be our friends, according to this article, as they have been before.

July 30, 2019 - The New York Times

Montgomery County

Controversial ADU Allowances Approved in Maryland

Spirited protests weren't enough to stop the Montgomery County Council from allowing accessory dwelling units (ADU) in parts of the county.

July 23, 2019 - Bethesda Magazine

Sunnyside Yard

Tricky Planning Politics for New York's Sunnyside Yard Mega-Project

An 18-month planning process is unfolding in a part of New York City that has not taken kindly to large, corporate visions of the future.

July 15, 2019 - City Limits

Texas

Plano, Texas Could Scrap its Growth Plan After Years of Litigation

A lawsuit has been successful in derailing the Plano Tomorrow plan, approved in 2015. The city could default to its 1986 plan.

July 14, 2019 - The Dallas Morning News

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