Zoning is a fundamental part of urban planning, but what if it's the very thing holding our cities back? We discuss with M. Nolan Gray the provocative ideas in his book Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It.

Rothstein's central argument, powerfully explored in the podcast, is that racial segregation in the U.S. is not accidental. It wasn't simply a matter of individual choices or economic factors.

The core argument is that free parking is never truly free. We might not pay at the curb, but we pay for it in other ways.

Understanding land-use law is essential for anyone involved in urban planning, development, or even just interested in how cities are built and shaped. While often seen as a complex and intimidating field, Land-Use Law in a Nutshell demystifies the legal principles that govern the use of private property.

Hirt argues that American zoning, unlike its European counterparts, is a uniquely American cultural institution rooted in the early 20th century. Its primary goal was to protect property values and promote the ideal of the single-family detached home.

Every city, town, and neighborhood has a story, and the comprehensive plan is where its next chapters are written. In his book, Community Planning: An Introduction to the Comprehensive Plan, Eric Damian Kelly provides an essential guide to this foundational document that charts the course for a community’s future.

In a world often focused on the planning challenges of sprawling cities and urban centers, we took a step back to the countryside. Arendt, the mind behind the influential book Rural by Design, makes a powerful case that thoughtful planning is not just for metropolitan areas.