• An adaptable zoning proposal for walkable cities

    Contemporary zoning envisions cities in a finished state—we need codes that constantly adapt to the changing urban landscape, which is the idea behind “metrocoalescence.”
    Zoning has a vice grip on the housing market across the country; we need to shift the basic logic underlying zoning to create a lasting shift in the urban housing market and to produce classical patterns of urban development. In spite of ample literature criticizing zoning and describing what good...Read more

  • City looks to the stars for lighting policy

    Groveland, Florida, has adopted a Dark Sky Lighting ordinance that preserves views of the Milky Way, saves energy, and enhances streetscapes.
    Groveland, Florida, is a rapidly growing city west of Orlando, with a population that rose eightfold from 2000 to 2020. Without intervention, the Milky Way, now visible at night, would soon be obscured by light pollution like most suburban places. The city, which adopted Transect-based zoning in...Read more

  • ‘Texafornia,’ soon to be a reality, needs more mixed-use

    The Lone Star State is at a unique historical point where rapidly increasing population may lead it down the same path as California. We have an opportunity to shape that growth.
    Public Square is highlighting top articles from 2024. States like Texas and Florida are growing rapidly as residents of California and other states move for various reasons including lower cost of living, often bringing their cultural and marketplace preferences along. Based in Dallas-Fort Worth,...Read more

  • Reforming parking by changing one word

    Norman, Oklahoma, has devised one of the most efficient ways to reduce parking requirements and stimulate incremental development.
    Public Square is highlighting top articles from 2024. The most bang-for-the-buck in land-use regulatory reform is found in the area of parking. A tiny re-write of parking regulations can have a huge impact on a city. Norman, Oklahoma, devised a very efficient way of changing its parking regs. Read...Read more