Check Out Our Passport Courses
Passport is your ticket to the training, experiences, and connections that will take you where you want to go in your planning career. Subscribe for unlimited access for one year to APA's extensive learning library of solution-oriented content facilitated by planners, for planners.
-
Form-Based Land Development Regulations
The Urban Lawyer, 28(1): 163-172, 2006by: Robert Sitkowski, AICP, Brian OhmThis article examines three primary legal issues that occur when local design-based land use regulations begin to be utilized. -
A Citizen’s Guide to Better Streets: How to Engage Your Transportation Agency
2008by: Gary Toth, Herman VolkThis guide presents a general-audience overview of the transportation planning process and a context-sensitive approach to street design. -
Edmonton, AB, Open Space Policy
C596, Adopted August 2017This standalone policy intends to supplement Edmonton’s open space planning, design, and management to create a multifunctional green network. -
The Wisdom of LEED’s Role in Green Building Mandates
Cornell Real Estate Review, 10(6): 22-37, 2012by: Marya CottenThis article examines how the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system functions in green building mandates. -
Built for Health: Air Quality
January 2018This audio discusses indoor air quality’s impact on health and the materials and design features that affect air quality. -
Jasper County, GA, Code of Ordinances
Updated October 2012The county’s code of ordinances provides a density bonus for buildings with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. -
Doraville, GA, Code of Ordinances
Updated January 2019The city’s code of ordinances encourages new developments receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design- New Construction (LEED-NC) certification. -
USGBC LEED
2019This web page contains an overview of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system. -
Intersections: Health and the Built Environment
2013by: Kathleen McCormick, Rachel MacCleery, Sara HammerschmidtThis report discusses how to improve health through community design, active transportation, healthy buildings, healthy food, and environmental regulations. -
America Needs Complete Streets
ITE Journal, April 2011by: Dan Burden, Todd LitmanThis article explains the importance of embracing a complete streets approach to transportation planning and project design. -
Measuring the Completeness of Complete Streets
Transport Reviews, 38(1): 73–95, 2018by: Nancy Hui, Shoshanna Saxe, Matthew RoordaThis article analyzes street classification systems that inform street design and proposes a complete streets assessment framework. -
Wausau, WI, Municipal Code
Updated October 2019The city’s codified ordinances establishes a historic preservation commission tasked with reviewing applications for historic designation and design review. -
Low Impact Development Center
2018This web page provides design and planning resources, technical assistance, research, and training for low-impact development (LID). -
Measuring Heat Islands
This web page shares a framework and information to help design an assessment of a community’s heat island effect. -
Toronto, ON, Bird-Friendly Best Practices Glass
by: Alison Lapp, Bailey Bradshaw, Hannah del RosarioThis guide serves as a best practices manual for bird-friendly design standards for using glass in buildings. -
Modesto, CA, Neighborhood Compatibility Guidelines
2009This guide for property owners and developers presents illustrated design principles for residential infill development in established neighborhoods. -
Streamlining the Municipal Development Review Process
January 2020This guide is designed to help municipalities in Ontario, Canada, design and implement improvements that streamline development review processes. -
Best Practices for Online Public Engagement for DOTs
March 2016This webinar presents case studies and guidance to help departments of transportation design online public engagement strategies. -
Moraga, CA, Code of Ordinances
The city's code exempts solar panels from design review procedures and addresses solar orientation standards and easements for subdivisions.Moraga, CA -
Building in the Scenic Area: Scenic Resources Implementation Handbook
December 2005This guide provides guidance on how landowners and developers can protect scenic views through strategic site design approaches. -
Supporting Performance-Based Planning and Programming through Scenario Planning
FHWA-HEP-16-068, April 2016by: Hannah Twaddell, Alanna McKeeman, AICP, Michael GrantThis guide is designed to help regional transportation planners design and conduct performance-based scenario planning efforts. -
Policies and Programmes Supporting Intergenerational Relations
2012by: Donna Butts, Leng Leng Thang, Alan Hatton YeoThis report challenges the traditional age-based approach to policy and program design and advocates for a more intergenerational approach. -
Health Impact Assessments: A Tool for Designing Climate Change Resilience into Green Building and Planning Projects
Journal of Green Building, 6(2): 66-87, 2011by: Adele HoughtonThis article discusses how health impact assessments (HIAs) can be used to design climate change resiliency into green building projects. -
Contra Costa County, CA, Parklet Program Guidelines
November 2016by: Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Contra Costa County Public Works DepartmentThis guide lays out design and location standards and outlines the permitting process for parklets in Contra Costa County, California. -
Sustainable Streets: Sidewalk Reference Manual
May 2014This guide covers a wide range of topics, including sidewalk benefits, design alternatives, legal liability, financing, maintenance, and regulation. -
Slopes and Low Impact Development: Designing and Siting LID Practices on Slopes
August 2015This fact sheet presents considerations for the design and planning of low-impact development (LID) on slopes. -
Designs for Green Infrastructure in Midwestern Communities
October 2018This online training reviews the function and design of several green infrastructure tactics and outlines strategies for their implementation. -
Salem, OR, Code of Ordinances
Updated January 2020The city’s code of ordinances promotes the use of green stormwater infrastructure in development, road, and parking design. -
Metro Transit Developers Guide to Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
2017This guide provides information to help developers in metropolitan Minneapolis-St. Paul design and implement transit-oriented development (TOD) projects. -
Talking Trees: An Urban Forestry Toolkit for Local Governments
November 2006by: Ryan Bell, Jennie WheelerThis report provides fact sheets and policy guidance to help cities and counties design and implement urban forestry programs. -
Virtual Public Engagement Strategy for Underserved Communities: Challenges and Solutions
August 2022This webinar explores how to design a sustainable and equitable virtual engagement strategy for local governments to implement. -
Mansfield, CT, Zoning Regulations
Updated March 2022The town's zoning regulations promote solar design and solar access protections; solar collectors may exceed maximum height requirements. -
Washington Township, NJ, Municipal Code
The township's code offers solar orientation design standards and permits accessory solar energy systems in all districts.Washington township, NJ -
San Gabriel, CA, Municipal Code
Updated December 2017The city's building regulations provide installation standards for solar energy collectors, and the zoning regulations support passive solar design opportunities.San Gabriel, CA -
West Brandywine Township, PA, Municipal Code Outdoor Lighting
Updated February 1, 2018The township addresses outdoor lighting in the development design standards article of its subdivision and land development ordinance. -
Cottage Grove, MN, City Code
Updated February 2022by: City of Cottage Grove, MNThe city's code permits accessory solar energy systems in all districts, promotes solar access design, and incentivizes solar site planning. -
Lancaster, CA, General Plan 2030
Updated October 2013The city's comprehensive plan includes several policies and action statements that encourage solar site design and solar energy system use. -
Austin, TX, Special Use Infill Options and Design Tools Available Through the Neighborhood Plan Combining District (NPCD)
2017This guide for property owners and developers discusses eight infill project options for designated neighborhood planning areas. -
California Building Code
California Building Code, 2016by: State of CaliforniaThis statute by the State of California, establishes building construction and design regulations for developments in the WUI areas.California -
4 Tools to Empower Data-driven Planning for Climate and Transportation Equity
Planners can take advantage of the national focus on infrastructure investments to enhance mobility and climate resilience for underserved communities.by: Kelly Dunn, David Wasserman, AICP July 27, 2023Planners can take advantage of the national focus on infrastructure investments to enhance mobility and climate resilience for underserved communities. -
Reno, NV, Master Plan
The city's master plan includes objectives, recommendations, and actions promoting solar energy development and solar orientation and design.Reno, NV -
West Chester, PA, Municipal Code
The borough's subdivision and land development ordinance includes design standards that require solar orientation for lots, streets, and facilities.West Chester, PA -
Ventura, CA, 2005 General Plan
Adopted August 2005The Natural Resources and Planning and Design chapters of this general plan include policies and action items that address solar.San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA -
Philadelphia, PA, Code of Ordinances
Updated October 2021This regulation belongs to the Affordable Housing Programs, Design Review, Housing Supply Planning, Solar Energy, and Urban Agriculture collections. -
The Baltimore Planning Academy: Community Empowerment Through Civic Education
PAS Memo 112by: Elina BravveThis PAS Memo explains the vision and goals of the Baltimore Planning Academy, its structure and design, and its impacts thus far, and offers guidance for planners seeking to create similar civic education and empowerment programs in their communities.Nonmembers$10.00APA members & PAS subscribers$0.00 -
The Leap to Zero Carbon and Zero Emissions: Understanding How to Go Beyond Existing Sustainable Design Protocols
Journal of Green Building, 3(4): 64-77, 2008by: Terri BoakeThis article explores how carbon neutral standards can be incorporated into green building certification systems. -
Land Use Planning for Public Health: The Role of Local Boards of Health in Community Design and Development
2006by: Atlanta Regional Health Forum, Atlanta Regional CommissionThis guide outlines the role of local boards of health in the land use planning process. -
Assessing the Economic Benefits and Resilience of Complete Streets in Orlando, FL: A Natural Experimental Design Approach
Journal of Transport & Health, 8: 169–178, 2018by: Chia-Yuan Yu, Minjie Xu, Samuel TowneThis article presents the results of a study of the effects of complete streets on single-family property values. -
Orange, CT, Municipal Code
The town's subdivision regulations require solar lot design and address solar access considerations in street tree plantings.Orange town, CT -
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.Park City, UT