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.
-
Built for Health: Biophilia
January 2018This podcast discusses the psychological, physiological, and environmental effects of biophilic design. -
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. -
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. -
Newington, CT, Low Impact Development and Stormwater Manual
November 2013This guide covers low-impact development (LID) planning principles, design considerations, and standards. -
Child-Friendly City
Urban Design Group Journal Issue 156, 2020The Urban Design Group Journal contains a series of articles about Child-Friendly Cities. -
Bellevue, WA, Complete Streets Guide
August 2020This guide establishes complete streets design guidelines for transportation facilities in Bellevue, Washington. -
Kalamazoo, MI, Downtown Design Review Standards and Guidelines: New Construction, Existing Buildings, Streetscape
2012This document provides both standards and guidelines for projects within the city's downtown.Kalamazoo, MI -
Phoenix, AZ, General Guidelines for Historic Properties
The city's historic property design guidelines addresses location and screening of solar equipment.Phoenix, AZ -
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. -
The Business Case for Healthy Buildings: Insights from Early Adopters
2018by: Kathleen McCormickThis report highlights the economic value of healthy building design and shares four case studies. -
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). -
Great Lakes Green Streets Guidebook
2013This guide presents planning, design, and construction considerations for implementing green streets and highlights three tactics. -
Planning for Cars that Drive Themselves
November 01, 2018Planners can't answer all the questions arising around autonomous vehicles, but it’s important we ask and start thinking about them. APA’s PAS Report, Planning for Autonomous Mobility, drives that effort along. -
Taos, NM, Vision 2020 Master Plan
The Community Design element in the town's master plan addresses solar energy.Taos, NM -
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. -
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. -
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. -
Torrance, CA, Municipal Code
The city's land use code building design compatibility requirements address solar access.Torrance, CA -
Faribault, MN, Comprehensive Plan
The Utilities element of the city's comprehensive plan includes a policy encouraging solar energy design.Faribault, MN -
The Public Participation Handbook: Making Better Decisions Through Citizen Involvement
2005by: James CreightonThis book lays out how to design a public participation program. -
Pittsburgh, PA, Historic Preservation Guidelines
2015This guide describes design standards for historic buildings, sites, and districts in Pittsburgh. -
Cleveland, OH, Complete and Green Streets Typology Plan
Adopted August 2013This functional plan presents a design strategy for complete and green streets. -
FHWA Scenario Planning Guidebook
February 2011This guide is designed to help transportation planners design and conduct scenario planning processes. -
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. -
Asheville, NC, Code of Ordinances
Updated November 2019This regulation belongs to the Design Review, Historic Preservation, Outdoor Lighting, and Solar Energy collections. -
Beaverton, OR, Development Code
Updated September 2019This regulation belongs to the Design Review, Solar Energy, and Transit-Oriented Development collections. -
Ventura, CA, Municipal Code
2017The development code protects environmentally sensitive habitat areas and recommends sustainable design features, including solar readiness.San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA -
Liberty Township, OH, Olentangy Heritage Corridor State Scenic Byway Design Guidelines
December 2005This guide informs developers on techniques to protect the rural character of the Olentangy Heritage Corridor.Liberty township, OH -
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. -
Oxnard, CA, Code of Ordinances
The city's zoning ordinance provides solar energy system design standards and solar access protections.Oxnard, CA -
Solano County, CA, County Code
Updated June 2023The county's subdivision ordinance includes design requirements that address solar orientation of lots and structures. -
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. -
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. -
Green Streets: A Conceptual Guide to Effective Green Streets Design Solutions
2009This guide examines the use of green infrastructure tactics in residential, commercial, and arterial streets and alleys. -
DAAPX 2020-Adam Rosa, Youth Engagement in Planning and Urban Design
October 2020This video highlights the importance of engaging youth in urban planning and decision-making processes. -
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. -
Orange, MA, Municipal Code
The town's zoning code includes solar access provisions to promote the use of solar design.Orange town, MA -
Better Planning, Better Cities: How Hacking City Policy Can Improve the Public Realm
ICMA News, May 13, 2013by: Jake LevitasThis article discusses urban prototyping as an alternative to more traditional civic design processes. -
Green Power Procurement: A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs
2014This guide is designed to help local governments design and implement a green power purchasing strategy. -
Anaheim, CA, General Plan
Updated April 2018by:The Green Element of the city's General Plan encourages solar siting and building design. -
Citizens Academies Component Guide
n.d.This website contains links to guidance materials to help community leaders design and implement citizen academies. -
Approaches to Disaster Management
2013by: John TiefenbacherThis book contains ten reports on the planning, communication, and design aspects of disaster management. -
Greening the Building and the Bottom Line
1998by: Joseph RommThis report examines the relationship between energy-efficient design and worker productivity. -
Topeka, KS, City Code
Updated September 2019The city’s codified ordinances set historic designation and design review processes. -
NIBS Historic Preservation
Updated 2019This web page introduces historic preservation from the perspective of building design. -
Anderson, IN, Preservation Guidelines for the Historic District
January 2012This guide sets design standards for historic districts in Anderson, Indiana. -
Sarasota County, FL, Low Impact Development Guidance Document
May 2015This guide presents technical and design considerations for low-impact development (LID) projects. -
Archer Lodge, NC, Code of Ordinances
Updated April 2021The town’s zoning code establishes design standards to address urban heat islands (UHI). -
The Adoption of Urban Digital Twins
Cities 131: 1-12, 2022This article establishes the basis for the design, development, and adoption of digital twins. -
Complete Streets: We Can Get There From Here
ITE Journal, May 2008by: John LaPlante, Barbara McCannThis article introduces the complete streets concept and explores design techniques that promote complete streets.