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June 25, 2025
A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado, limited the scope of reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and strongly encouraged greater judicial deference to agency reviews and decisions.
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June 24, 2025
Emerging planners may face a future different than what they imagined a year ago as federal policy rapidly changes. Five planning professors offer tips on how to be successful as early-career professionals.
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June 23, 2025
As federal policy shifts threaten core planning-related programs, pandemic-recovery funding ends, and the specter of economic recession looms larger, it's time for planners to take a close look at the sources of funding that pay for their positions. Part One of this three-part series explores how we pay for planning now and reviews some warning signs we've seen through the first half of 2025.
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June 23, 2025
Planners can learn applicable approaches to managing stress and improving personal resilience from surgeons, therapists, and first responders working in high-stress jobs.
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June 23, 2025
The Trump administration aims to announce a plan to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in late 2025.
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June 17, 2025
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a new process for approving waivers to vehicle design standards. The move has significant implications for autonomous vehicles (AVs) which require waivers for omitting required safety elements.
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June 16, 2025
Reflecting on the success of the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook, a one-of-a-kind guide for boosting attainable housing supply, and the launch of the Housing Supply Accelerator Challenge led by APA and NLC to further support communities.
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June 12, 2025
Global Perspectives: Discover how deep cultural ties, economic constraints, and policy gaps influence why residents in Japan’s flood-prone areas choose to stay, offering planners valuable insights for community-informed resilience strategies.
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June 11, 2025
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Zoning may not be the primary regulatory tool for childcare facilities, but that doesn't mean it isn't an important tool for expanding access to childcare.
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June 10, 2025
Reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook and introducing the Housing Supply Accelerator Challenge, a nationwide network designed to accelerate the implementation of proven and innovative housing strategies and expand the supply of housing in communities across the country.
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June 9, 2025
The phases of emergency management can be a useful framework for preparing and coping with threats to local planning activities.
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June 5, 2025
Global Perspectives: See how three European countries are modernizing cadastral systems through 3D mapping, public-private collaboration, and AI to deliver more accurate, accessible, and future-ready land data for planners.
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June 3, 2025
As housing affordability and supply challenges intensify nationwide, states are recognizing that comprehensive solutions require broad collaboration. In states across the country, coalitions of business leaders, housing advocates, planners, and community members are coming together to craft policies that reflect their communities’ unique needs.
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May 29, 2025
Global Perspectives: Discover how Germany’s Kinzig Valley balances rural identity with urban reliance—underscoring the need for planning approaches that integrate small towns into metropolitan governance without erasing their unique character.
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May 22, 2025
Learn how nature can help reduce your stress and improve your mental health and overall well-being, and how much time you need to spend in the outdoors to achieve positive benefits.
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May 22, 2025
Global Perspectives: Learn how Vienna and Hungary use effective land management strategies to equip planners with powerful tools for improving affordable housing access and shaping equitable urban futures.
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May 22, 2025
The U.S. House of Representatives passed its 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' in a narrow, late-night vote. For planners, the bill's housing, infrastructure finance, clean energy, and economic development elements are especially critical. Learn about the mixed bag of policies included in the bill.
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May 21, 2025
To explore accelerating momentum to increase housing supply and tackle housing affordability, APA hosted a session on "State Momentum for Housing Reform." The discussion featured expert panelists who examine recent state-level efforts, emerging trends, and where housing policy is headed next.
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May 20, 2025
As federal databases are moved off of government websites, other institutions such as nonprofits and universities are stepping in to preserve and house this data.
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May 19, 2025
When APA and ICMA launched Solar@Scale in late 2020, relatively few communities referenced large-scale solar energy systems in their zoning codes. Nearly five years later, zoning regulations for community- and utility-scale solar energy systems are much more common, we are seeing the emergence of more nuanced regulatory approaches.
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May 15, 2025
Global Perspectives: Learn how Japan’s approach to aging condominiums offers planners a flexible model for keeping older housing viable amid shifting demographics worldwide.
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May 15, 2025
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: It isn't 1959 anymore. What are the keys to an effective modern incentive zoning scheme?
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May 13, 2025
The effects of the nationwide housing supply crisis were pushing Columbus, Ohio, to the brink.
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May 12, 2025
With the new unpredictability of some federal grants, many communities are looking for other ways to drive federal investment into local planning and projects. An alternative, or perhaps a supplement, to either discretionary grants or formula-based funding may be congressionally directed spending, known as “earmarks.”
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May 9, 2025
Learn how to apply scenario planning to help you deal with uncertainty.
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May 9, 2025
Learn how to build your personal resilience when confronted with challenging times or behaviors.
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May 8, 2025
Global Perspectives: Learn how coastal planning balances growth and sustainability through Brazil’s tourism-driven model and Spain’s ecological restoration approach.
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May 7, 2025
On May 2, the Trump administration released their Fiscal Year 2026 "skinny" budget proposal outlining funding recommendations for federal programs. Learn more on what planners should expect and APA's response.
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May 5, 2025
Sponsored content from Eastern Washington University
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May 5, 2025
Engage Generation Z in planning decisions to create civic engagement and a commitment to their communities.
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May 2, 2025
Sponsored content from Altitude by Geotab.
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May 1, 2025
Global Perspectives: London’s housing reforms reveal the trade-offs of deregulation, highlighting the need for planners to balance accelerated development with livability and affordability.
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April 30, 2025
Sponsored content from Tyler Technologies. Here are three simple questions you can ask yourself to improve your planning processes internally and for residents.
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April 28, 2025
The 2024 election results mark unified Republican control of the White House and Congress. Here are some ways planners can expect the administration to chart a different regulatory course for transportation programs and policy.
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April 22, 2025
Recent legislative efforts in Washington, Connecticut, Colorado, Minnesota, and Montana highlight a growing movement to reduce or eliminate parking requirements. While each state’s approach varies, the common theme is clear: outdated parking mandates are increasingly an obstacle to housing affordability and sustainable development.
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April 21, 2025
When Nguyen Nguyen, an associate planner in Sacramento, California, began meeting with residents about housing concerns in 2021, he started hearing similar stories.
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April 18, 2025
Honoring the recipients of the 2024 APA President Awards.
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April 17, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how allowing private developers to build middle housing is key to making single-family zoning reform effective and expanding affordable housing options.
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April 17, 2025
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has issued new guidance for required Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy plans (CEDS). Learn how these new standards will affect planners.
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April 17, 2025
FEMA has issued new guidance related to requirements for incorporating underserved communities, socially vulnerable populations, and climate change into local hazard mitigation plans. Those sections are now removed from the guide outlining plan requirements. Read more on how this is affecting planning practices.
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April 15, 2025
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Why is public engagement around zoning changes so difficult, and what are the keys to effective engagement?
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April 10, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Learn how a Milwaukee pilot program challenges the effectiveness of first-mile/last-mile services and reveals the need to center rider input and regional coordination in transit planning.
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April 9, 2025
Many emerging professionals struggle with the transition from college to the workforce, facing job market challenges, mental health stressors, and the pressure of starting over in a new environment.
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April 7, 2025
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton issued a memorandum suspending funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The action stops $750 million in planned grants for FY25. Learn how this will impact planners.
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April 2, 2025
Over 4,300 people made their way to Denver for the American Planning Association’s (APA) 2025 National Planning Conference (NPC25).
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April 2, 2025
The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program is now accepting applications.
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March 27, 2025
Despite a shifting political environment, planners can still support their communities in securing funding for local reforms that increase housing abundance. Here are four tips to explore the wide variety of financial tools available, and a look at how some communities are already using these tips to their advantage.
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March 27, 2025
As federal funding programs are changed, reduced, or curtailed, localities are increasingly looking to states to supplement finance efforts to produce, preserve, and improve housing supply. Here are four ways to use state funding for local housing action, plus a look at two states that are creating even more opportunities for financing
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March 27, 2025
A variety of federal grant programs are at risk of losing funding due to recent actions by the Trump Administration, including discretionary programs such as Safe Streets for All, RAISE/BUILD grants, and Reconnecting Communities. Here are 7 actions for planners to take when federal grant funds in their communities are in jeopardy.
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March 27, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Explore how planners can strengthen disaster recovery efforts by embracing proactive roles, utilizing planning tools, and leading recovery initiatives to build more resilient communities.
