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A Case Study of Urban Design and Mental Health in Las Vegas
Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health, 5: 2018by: Dak KopecThis article takes a close look at the impact of the built environment on the mental health of residents in Las Vegas. -
How Families Can Benefit the Planning and Design of Cities
Planetizen, September 2, 2014by: Bradley Calvert, AICPThis blog post pushes back against the assumption that families are expensive for cities. -
Design Lights Consortium Sample Language for Light Pollution Mitigation Bylaws and Ordinances
April 2023This model ordinance provides a framework to help cities, towns, and counties draft outdoor lighting regulations. -
Newark, DE, Code of Ordinances
2017The city's subdivision ordinance includes design standards for energy conservation and solar access including general design and construction principles and subdivision plan guidelines and requirements that address solar orientation. -
An Overview of Scenario Approaches: A Guide for Urban Design and Planning
Journal of Planning Literature 37(3): 467-487by: Grace Jaude, Olaf Mumm, Vanessa CarlowThis article reviews different approaches and methods used for scenario planning. -
Santa Barbara, CA, Solar Energy System Design Guidelines and Solar Recognition Program
Adopted December 2006This guide discusses general principles and specific techniques for designing well integrated, visually appealing solar systems. -
Model Green Building Ordinance
2007This model ordinance provides a template to help cities and counties utilize the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-New Construction (LEED-NC) for the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings. -
Case Study: Broward County, FL, Healthy, Safe & Prosperous By Design
September 2016This case study shares how the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization addressed its transportation cost and safety concerns through complete streets policies and projects. -
Flagler County, FL, Scenic Corridor Overlay District Design Guidelines Handbook
August 2004This guide explains how the Flagler County Scenic Corridor Overlay protects scenic views. -
Separating Fact from Fiction to Design Effective Inclusionary Housing Programs
Inclusionary Housing Research & Policy Briefs, 2016by: Lisa SturtevantThis briefing paper evaluates inclusionary housing programs to determine factors for their success. -
Built for Health: Biophilia
January 2018This podcast discusses the psychological, physiological, and environmental effects of biophilic design. -
Clayton, CA, Municipal Code
Updated May 2019The city’s zoning code includes provisions on universal design. -
Planning for Wellbeing
Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health, 1: 2016by: Rhiannon Corcoran, Graham MarshallThis article introduces the concept of well-design, which includes five principles. -
Being in a “Green” Building Elicits “Greener” Recycling, but Not Necessarily “Better” Recycling
PLOS One, 11(1): e0145737, 2016by: Alessandra DiGiacomo, Peter Lenkic, David WuThis article explores the relationship between green building design and recycling. -
Pocatello, ID, City Code
The city's subdivision regulations include requirements for solar access design. -
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA, Victoria Avenue Corridor Plan and Develoment Code
Green design guidelines in this corridor plan and code address solar considerations. -
Taos, NM, Vision 2020 Master Plan
The Community Design element in the town's master plan addresses solar energy. -
Newington, CT, Low Impact Development and Stormwater Manual
November 2013This guide covers low-impact development (LID) planning principles, design considerations, and standards. -
The Chicago Green Alley Handbook
2010This guide describes the benefits, design features, and best practices of green alleys. -
Sedona, AZ, Land Development Code
The city's Main Street and Character Districts Design Manual addresses solar building orientation. -
Beaverton, OR, Development Code
Updated September 2019This regulation belongs to the Design Review, Solar Energy, and Transit-Oriented Development collections. -
The Public Participation Handbook: Making Better Decisions Through Citizen Involvement
2005by: James CreightonThis book lays out how to design a public participation program. -
Transfer of Development Rights in U.S. Communities: Evaluating Program Design, Implementation, and Outcomes
2007by: margaret walls, Virginia McConnellThis report offers detailed case studies of 10 transfer of development rights programs covering a range of land use goals. -
Anderson, IN, Preservation Guidelines for the Historic District
January 2012This guide sets design standards for historic districts in Anderson, Indiana. -
Design and Methods of Natural Experiments in Transit and Physical Activity
December 2015by: Brian Saelens, Barbara Brown, Chad SpoonThis recorded webinar describes the process of conducting a pre-post study to assess the health impact of public transportation infrastructure projects. -
The View from the Road: Patterns, Principles & Guidelines for Roadscape Design
August 2012This guide presents principles and guidelines for scenic road corridors, focusing on a segment of Route 7 from Shelbourne to Middlebury in Vermont. -
Phoenix, AZ, General Guidelines for Historic Properties
The city's historic property design guidelines addresses location and screening of solar equipment. -
Kirkwood, MO, A Guideline for Residential Architectural Review
2011The design guidelines are based on a framework of “preferred” and “discouraged” elements for buildings. -
Rhode Island Low Impact Development Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual
March 2011This guide presents standards, recommendations, and best practices for designing and planning low-impact development (LID). -
Design by the Rules: The Historical Underpinnings of Form-Based Codes
Journal of the American Planning Association, 75(2): 144-160, 2009by: Emily Talen, FAICPThis article details the historical lineage of form-based codes due to it being a largely unexplored topic at a time of renewed interest. -
Bourne, MA, Zoning Bylaw
Updated May 2017The town’s zoning bylaw encourages the use of low-impact development (LID) tactics for stormwater management in street design, parking design, and development in a Downtown District (“DTD”) and Marine Center Overlay District (“MCOD”). -
What are the Positive Effects of Biophilic Urban Planning?
by: Ben GoodenThis blog post summarizes biophilic design based on the connection between nature and mental health. -
Cleveland, OH, Complete and Green Streets Typology Plan
Adopted August 2013This functional plan presents a design strategy for complete and green streets. -
Topeka, KS, City Code
Updated September 2019The city’s codified ordinances set historic designation and design review processes. -
Greenlighting Cannabis — What Every Planning Department Needs to Know
Momentum for cannabis legalization is growing nationwide. For communities in states that might be next, the best time to start preparing is now.by: Daniel Vock February 11, 2021Communities everywhere should be thinking about and planning for the eventuality of legalized recreational cannabis. Fortunately, they can look to local jurisdictions in states that have gone before them for lessons on what works — and what doesn’t. -
Asheville, NC, Code of Ordinances
Updated November 2019This regulation belongs to the Design Review, Historic Preservation, Outdoor Lighting, and Solar Energy collections. -
Torrance, CA, Municipal Code
The city's land use code building design compatibility requirements address solar access. -
Virginia Beach, VA, Mixed Use Development Guidelines
2004These design guidelines for the central business mixed use district were created to implement the comprehensive plan. -
NIBS Historic Preservation
Updated 2019This web page introduces historic preservation from the perspective of building design. -
Low Impact Development (LID): A Sensible Approach to Land Development and Stormwater Management
This fact sheet covers the design, benefits, and challenges of low-impact development (LID). -
San Diego, CA, City Heights Urban Greening Plan
Adopted August 2014This subarea plan covers a variety of design strategies and tactics for implementing green streets. -
Greening the Building and the Bottom Line
1998by: Joseph RommThis report examines the relationship between energy-efficient design and worker productivity. -
Takoma Park, MD, Municipal Code
In commercial districts, facade standards require solar collectors to be well-integrated into roof design. -
Pittsburgh, PA, Historic Preservation Guidelines
2015This guide describes design standards for historic buildings, sites, and districts in Pittsburgh. -
Millersville, TN, Code of Ordinances
The city's subdivision regulations require solar site design to the extent feasible. -
Low Impact Development in Coastal South Carolina: A Planning and Design Guide
2014This guide reviews the benefits of low-impact development (LID), common tactics, and approaches to implementation. -
Making Parking Lots More Tree Friendly
Fact Sheet #3, 2002by: James GeigerThis fact sheet provides site planning, design, and regulatory recommendations for parking lot trees. -
Ventura, CA, Municipal Code
2017The development code protects environmentally sensitive habitat areas and recommends sustainable design features, including solar readiness. -
Arlington County, VA, Pentagon City Sector Plan
Adopted February 2022This subarea plan for the Pentagon City neighborhood incorporates biophilic design into the public space section.