Category: Policy

Complete Streets

Complete Streets

Complete Streets

09/15/26

“How can we design streets that are safe for all different types of transportation users?”

City streets in many parts of the world are designed with only cars in mind. But people move through streets in more than just cars, whether it’s by walking, biking, or taking transit. Car-centric street designs build infrastructure that’s incomplete for everyone’s needs and safety. Complete Streets, developed by Smart Growth America, is a street planning approach that integrates all different transit modes into a safe, healthy, and friendly urban design. Complete streets center marginalized communities and develop clear, solid criteria in their process. Examples of complete street infrastructure include bike lanes, well-built sidewalks, and comfortable and accessible transit stops.

Community Land Trusts

Community Land Trusts

Community Land Trusts

 08/24/26

“How can we establish nonprofits to hold and manage land for affordable housing?”

Land trusts allow nonprofits to hold and manage land. Community Land Trusts (CLTs) hold and steward land specifically for affordable housing. The Community Land Trust purchases land and leases it out to tenants or other organizations that own and manage the buildings and improvements. The land trust protects residents from housing market price increases by separating building ownership from land ownership. Community land trusts may have governance structures that allow residents to take part.

Land Trusts

Land Trusts

Land Trusts

 08/23/26

“How can people create nonprofit organizations that own and manage land?”

Land is typically managed by private individuals as a consequence of global Western European colonization. However, nonprofit organizations called Land Trusts are also able to own and manage land. Land trusts can serve a variety of functions, from conserving natural landscapes to providing affordable housing.

Zoning Ordinances

Zoning Ordinances

Zoning Ordinances

08/22/26

“How can municipalities create local laws to regulate zoning?”

Municipalities can institute ordinances, or local laws, to govern their own town. Zoning Ordinances are zoning laws set up by cities to regulate how different portions of a municipality are zoned for specific uses. These can range from permitted land use to bike lane regulations to greenspace minimums. 

Megasites

Megasites

Megasites

07/26/26

“How can we create large construction-ready sites for giant projects?”

Large construction projects such as new factories or data centers need voluminous amounts of land and infrastructure to support it. Gathering these piecemeal can lead to unbelievable cost overruns and bureaucratic delays. However, developers can purchase Megasites, large contiguous tracts of land that are construction-ready with infrastructure and close to transportation hubs support to remedy this. Megasites commonly complete environmental review ahead of time to ensure policy compliance.

Office Parks

Office Parks

Office Parks

07/25/26

“How can we colocate offices together using urban planning?”

Many white-collar workers are employed in offices. Colocating common-use types in urban districts can improve efficiency. Consequently, municipalities can plan Office Parks that cluster office buildings together to create a sense of cohesion. Office parks may have greenery to improve work-life quality, and may be placed near transit to enable easier commutes.

Science Parks

Science Parks

Science Parks

07/23/26

“How can universities, governments, and private industries expand research by co-locating workplaces?”

Universities, governments, and private industries can drive scientific and technological innovation. Consequently, it’s a logical step for urban areas to carve out districts for these institutions to work close to each other. These so-called Science Parks facilitate research operations, technology transfer, and knowledge sharing among tenants. If designed well, science parks can superdrive scientific progress. Example science parks across the world include the UCSC Monterey Bay Education, Science & Technology Center, the Metrotech Center at New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Sophia Antipolis in Southeast France, and Saigon Hi-Tech Park in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Roadless Rule

The Roadless Rule

The Roadless Rule

07/22/26

“What’s the U.S.federal rule that protects backcountry forests from road construction, why is it under attack, and what can you do to help?”

Remote, backcountry forests are marvelous pieces of geography. Not only do they nurture diverse ecosystems and regulate our planet’s carbon balance, but they also provide world-class recreational opportunities. In 2001, the U.S. federal government introduced The Roadless Rule, which protects roughly 60 million acres of American backcountry forests and grasslands from road and logging development. This rule has been an incredible success, sustaining not only the forests themselves but also drinking water access to over 25 million Americans. However, this is now all under threat as the USDA released a notice of intent to repeal the roadless rule, likely by (as of writing) late 2026. If you are a U.S. resident, you can fight to protect the roadless rule by calling your representatives, using the information found in the link here.