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LEED and the International Green Construction Code
November 2018This briefing paper discusses the standards of the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) and how it can relate to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system. -
Orange, CT, Municipal Code
The town's subdivision regulations require solar lot design and address solar access considerations in street tree plantings. -
Cuyahoga Falls, OH, General Development Code
Updated 2016The city’s general development code allows for additional density bonuses for projects with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) or New Construction (LEED-NC) certifications. -
Accessory Dwellings
2017This website contains numerous pages with information about accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a concept, ADU design and construction, state and local policy for ADUs, and research about ADUs. -
Atlanta Street Food Feasibility Study
2010by: Zachary Adriaenssens, AICP, Mike Cutno, Vanhvilai DouangchaiThis study, conducted by three graduate students, covers the topic areas of policy, urban design, economic impact, and food environment as they relate to mobile food vending in the Atlanta region. -
Centerville, OH, Unified Development Ordinance
Updated February 2018by: City of CentervilleThe city's unified development ordinance addresses solar power plants and accessory solar energy systems, providing approval and design standards for both, but prohibits solar panels on landmarked buildings. -
The Effects of Changes to the Built Environment on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Adults: Systematic Review
Health & Place, 53: 237-257, 2018by: T Moore, J Kesten, J Lopez-LopezThis article reviews intervention studies on the built environment and mental health and concludes that the current evidence is weak and relies on poor study design and limited data. -
Taos, NM, Code of Ordinances
The town's building and zoning codes include a solar rights declaration protecting solar access to existing solar energy systems; design standards encourage incorporation of solar features into local architectural styles. -
Design Review
PAS QuickNotes 8January 01, 2007This edition of PAS QuickNotes explores the use of design review as a tool for protecting community character.List price$10.00APA member & PAS subscriber$0.00 -
Watertown, MN, Municipal Code
The city's municipal code includes a chapter on alternative energy systems that permits solar energy systems in all districts. Subdivision regulations encourage lot design that considers future solar energy system use. -
Vista, CA, General Plan 2030
Adopted February 2012The city's comprehensive plan includes policies to promote efficient and sustainable use of energy resources by incorporating passive solar design features in new buildings and identifying sites for solar energy production -
El Monte, CA, Code of Ordinances
Updated March 2019The city’s code of ordinances outlines detailed requirements for the use of low-impact development (LID) tactics in the site design and post-construction operations and maintenance of all development. -
Parks for an Aging Population: Needs and Preferences of Low-Income Seniors in Los Angeles
Journal of the American Planning Association, 82(3): 236-251, 2016by: Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Lene Levy-Storms, Lin ChenThis JAPA article shares the results of a literature review and focus groups with low-income, inner-city seniors, advocating for the inclusion of seniors in park design and programming. -
Green Bay, WI, Municipal Code
Updated August 2018The city's zoning code permits accessory solar energy systems by right in most districts and as conditional uses in others; its subdivision ordinance encourages solar-oriented street design. -
Park City, UT, General Plan
The city's general plan includes Community Planning and Greenhouse Gas Reduction strategies that encourage solar design and solar energy development. -
San Carlos, CA, Municipal Code
Updated January 2018The city's subdivision regulations address solar design requirements, and the zoning code offers a bonus FAR incentive for solar panels and other green building measures in mixed use districts. -
Ridgecrest, CA, General Plan
The Community Design and Open Space and Conservation elements of the city's general plan include goals, policies, and implementation measures to promote use of solar energy resources. -
Palmetto Bay, FL, Code of Ordinances
Updated September 2019The village's code of ordinances outlines a green building program that requires new public buildings and provides incentives for private buildings to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. -
Sedona, AZ, Sedona Community Plan
The Environment Element of the community plan identifies increasing solar energy use as a key issue and offers goals that promote the use of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient site design. -
Wasatch County, UT, County Code
The county's code permits flush-mounted rooftop solar panels in all districts by right; architectural guidelines in a Specially Planned Area encourage green design, including solar energy use and orientation. -
What Role Do Planning and Design Play in a Pandemic? Ann Forsyth Reflects on COVID-19’s Impact on the Future of Urban Life
News, March 19, 2020by: Ann ForsythThis blog post discusses the role of planners in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for the future of urban life. -
Top 10 Misconceptions About Form-Based Codes
Public Square, May 2016by: Tony PerezThis article examines the 10 misconceptions that surround the discussion of form-based codes. -
Naugatuck, CT, Code of Ordinances
The borough's subdivision regulations requires solar orientation and design for solar access; the zoning regulations create a planned district for cluster solar-residential community development. -
Baltimore County, MD, Code of Ordinances
Updated July 2019The county’s code of ordinances identifies the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification as an eligibility for property tax credits and as a requirement for planned unit developments (PUD’s). -
Cranford Township, NJ, Municipal Code
Updated January 2019The township’s municipal code requires Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for all new public buildings and major renovations on public buildings and highlights a Green Building Density Incentive Program. -
Impacts of Transit Oriented Development on Public Transportation Ridership
NCTR-576-10, 2005by: Sara Jane Hendricks, AICP, Phil Winters, Francis WambalabaThis report reviews the literature on the effects of urban form on transit ridership and proposes a research design to study the effects of transit-oriented development (TOD) on ridership over time. -
Eagle County, CO, Land Use Regulations
Updated March 2023The county's land-use regulations permit solar energy systems in all districts with special use approval for larger systems; the county's ECObuild building code offers points for several solar energy equipment and design features. -
Cutler Bay, FL, Code of Ordinances
Updated March 2019The town’s land development code includes bicycle storage requirements in their larger Green Standards code, which follows the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. -
Puyallyup, WA, Municipal Code
Updated September 2019The city’s codified ordinances establish a design review and historic preservation board, a process for adding or removing properties from the local register of historic places, and a procedure for applying the state’s special property tax valuation. -
Novato, CA, Code of Ordinances
The city's zoning ordinance encourages solar orientation and design, provides standards for solar collector installation, and provides for solar access easement covenants. -
Using Your Illusion
Take a walk through virtual reality and other immersive environment tools for planning.May 01, 2017For planning and design professionals, immersive reality can help produce better design solutions. -
Parklets: Best Practices for Design and Implementation
PAS Memo — September-October 2016by: Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Madeline Brozen September 01, 2016The September/October 2016 issue of PAS Memo describes the many functions of parklets and draws on case studies of cities across the country to offer guidance to planners on designing and implementing parklet programs in their communities.List Price$10.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00 -
Planning for Equitable Development: Social Equity by Design
PAS Memo — March-April 2017by: Carlton Eley March 01, 2017The March/April 2017 issue of PAS Memo highlights the importance of equitable development in creating strong and sustainable communities for all and provides principles and guidance to help planners implement social equity in their communities.List Price$10.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00 -
Designing Everyday Spaces for Playful Learning
PAS Memo 119Playful Learning Landscapes (PLL) address learning inequalities that exist outside of the classroom by marrying the science of learning with urban design and placemaking, using evidence-based approaches for creating vibrant public spaces that foster learning and caregiver interaction, bring people together, and generate a sense of community ownership and pride. -
Federal Automated Vehicles Policy: Accelerating the Next Revolution in Roadway Safety (AV 1.0)
September 2016This standalone policy provides agency guidance to speed the delivery of an initial regulatory framework and best practices to guide manufacturers and other entities in the safe design, development, testing, and deployment of highly automated vehicles. -
Contribution of Urban Design Qualities to Pedestrian Activity
February 01, 2016Researchers have started to look into how D variables impact walkability and pedestrian activity. -
Wenatchee, WA, Municipal Code
2018The city’s fire code includes extensive standards for the wildland-urban interface. It discusses the standards for building design and construction for all new structures and additions developed adjacent to the designated wildland-urban interface boundary. -
Rancho Cordova, CA, General Plan
The Urban Design, Housing, and Infrastructure, Services, and Finance elements of the city's general plan recognize the importance of solar energy and include several action items promoting the use of solar energy systems. -
California Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones Statute
Government Code §§51175 – 51189, 1992by: State of CaliforniaThis statute by the State of California, establishes the classification of the state lands based on hazard severity levels. It aims to help stakeholders and the community in wildfire management and provides requirements for building construction and design for these communities. -
Kutztown, PA, Municipal Code
2017by: Borough of Kutztown, PAThe borough's zoning code permits accessory solar energy systems in all district subject to standards; its subdivision code supports solar access considerations and design. -
Mountain View, CA, East Whisman Precise Plan
The city's General Plan provides land use and design visions, goals, policies, and guidelines for different "change areas" within the city; those for the East Whisman Change Area address solar and renewable energy production. -
Mountain View, CA, North Bayshore Precise Plan
The city's General Plan provides land use and design visions, goals, policies, and guidelines for different "change areas" within the city; those for the North Bayshore Change Area address solar and renewable energy production. -
How Planning for Birds Makes Our Communities and Economies Healthier
A new book from biophilic design advocate and sustainability expert Tim Beatley takes a global tour of cities reinventing the status quo to support birdlife.by: Lindsay Nieman July 15, 2021A new book from biophilic design advocate and sustainability expert Tim Beatley takes a global tour of cities reinventing the status quo to support birdlife. -
Solar Access: Using the Environment in Building Design
Zoning Practice — April 2010by: Mary-Margaret Jenior, AICP April 01, 2010This issue of Zoning Practice highlights the elements of solar building design and discusses how communities can use land use controls to promote and protect solar access.List Price$10.00ZP subscriber$0.00 -
Corvallis, OR, Land Development Code
Updated March 2019The city's land development code provides for two types of solar access permits and establishes a solar design requirement for new subdivisions and planned developments; historic preservation regulations provide for the installation of solar panels on historic resources. -
Ketchum, ID, 2014 Comprehensive Plan
The Community Design and Neighborhoods, Natural Resource Stewardship, Public Safety and Utilities, and Community Health and Wellness chapters in the city's comprehensive plan address renewable energy objectives; the Community Profile explores solar access and aspect in the city. -
Smart Cities: Integrating Technology, Community, and Nature
PAS Report 599by: Petra Hurtado, PhD, Benjamin Hitchings, FAICP, David Rouse, FAICP December 01, 2021If deployed in the right ways, smart city technologies can help resolve the myriad challenges all communities face today. This PAS Report prepares planners to lead the way in ensuring equitable implementation of smart city innovations that enhance livability, sustainability, and resilience while fostering innovation, collaboration, and participatory co-creation.Nonmember price$25.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00 -
Worland, WY, City Code
The city's zoning code allows solar energy system owners to apply for a solar permit to protect their rights to solar access and permits solar collectors as accessory uses in all districts; subdivision regulations encourage block design that allows for solar access. -
Biophilia
PAS QuickNotes 87by: Petra Hurtado, PhD August 01, 2020This edition of PAS QuickNotes emphasizes the importance of biophilia in planning and explains how planners can create communities that provide equitable access to nature and green space design that offers an effective nature experience for all.List price$10.00APA member & PAS subscriber$0.00 -
Complete Streets
Complete streets is an approach to planning and designing streets and street networks that prioritizes safe and convenient access for all modes and users. This collection catalogs resources that provide background and policy guidance, as well as examples that demonstrate how localities are using plans, policies, and regulations to consider all modes of transportation in the design of streets.