Learn how cities plan growth and how consultants support it: comprehensive plans, zoning, community engagement, transportation and development review.
What you’ll learn
- Read and apply comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances
- Explain how land use, transportation and infrastructure fit together
- Plan and run a community engagement process
- Prepare clear planning analyses and staff-style reports
- Advise private clients on working with planning departments
Lessons
Urban Planning Consultant Course — Lesson 1: How planning works
Urban Planning Consultant Course — Lesson 2: Comprehensive plans and policy
The comprehensive plan sets long-term direction. You learn how plans are organized, how future land use maps work, and how policy flows into zoning. In this lesson Elements of a comprehensive plan Future land use maps Linking policy to regulation Put it into practice Summarize the future land use designation and goals for one neighborhood. […]
Urban Planning Consultant Course — Lesson 3: Zoning and development codes
Zoning turns policy into rules. This lesson covers Euclidean, form-based and overlay zoning, variances and rezonings. In this lesson Traditional, form-based and overlay zoning Variances, special uses and rezonings Reading a development code Put it into practice Compare the zoning rules for two districts in your city. Note: Rules vary by city, county and state. […]
Urban Planning Consultant Course — Lesson 4: Transportation and infrastructure
Growth depends on roads, transit, water and sewer. You learn the basics of traffic studies, transit-oriented development and infrastructure planning. In this lesson Traffic impact basics Transit-oriented development Capital improvement plans Put it into practice Review your city's capital improvement plan and note projects that affect development. Note: Rules vary by city, county and state. […]
Urban Planning Consultant Course — Lesson 5: Community engagement
Plans succeed when people support them. This lesson covers designing engagement, running public meetings and summarizing feedback fairly. In this lesson Engagement plans and stakeholder mapping Running workshops and public meetings Reporting what you heard Put it into practice Draft an engagement plan for a small neighborhood plan. Note: Rules vary by city, county and […]
Urban Planning Consultant Course — Lesson 6: Planning analysis and reporting
Consultants deliver analysis decision-makers can act on. Learn how to structure a planning report, present data, and make clear recommendations. In this lesson Structure of a planning report Maps, data and visuals Writing recommendations Put it into practice Write a two-page planning memo on a proposed rezoning in your area. Note: Rules vary by city, […]