Public spaces have power

In this compelling TED talk, Amanda Burden, the New York City planning director who spearheaded the High Line Park, describes the essential role of public spaces with a human scale.

Downtowns, economic development, Master plans, Municipal Management, Placemaking, Public engagement, Urban, ZoningcwaplanMarch 1, 2016Amanda Burden, Carlisle/Wortman Associates, High Line, Michigan, Parks, planning, public spaces, TOD, transit oriented development

What is missing middle housing and why do you need it?

Demand is growing for housing that looks like single family homes but provides greater density, walkability and access to urban-style amenities

economic development, Form-based codes, Master plans, Placemaking, Urban, ZoningcwaplanDecember 2, 2015Carlisle/Wortman Associates, Dan Parolek, housing, Michigan, missing middle, planning

Site Plan Review 101

Planning professionals and commissioners will appreciate this clear approach to reviewing a site plan. Best advice: Find a quiet place where you can spread out and work without interruptions.

Code enforcement, economic development, ZoningcwaplanApril 3, 2015Carlisle/Wortman Associates, Michigan, planning, planning commission, real estate development, Site plan review

Empower your zoning administrator

Managing and enforcing zoning should be the zoning administrator’s primary – or only – job.

Code enforcement, ZoningcwaplanFebruary 18, 2015Carlisle/Wortman Associates, code enforcement, John Enos, Michigan, Michigan Association of Planning, planning

A new economy calls for new economic development methods

Local governments must make themselves desirable places for knowledge workers, and that requires different tools than those with which we once chased smokestacks.