This course takes a business-oriented perspective to explore the tradeoffs and synergies between the ecological and financial performance of businesses.
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Featured Courses
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Carlos Zapata46 minutes -
Chris HoltkampBuilding on the first course in this series, Planetizen Courses dives into the variety of ways planners can incorporate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their communities.
66 minutes -
Chris HoltkampSustainability has become a primary focus of urban planning and community development; however, there can be confusion and lack of consensus about what constitutes sustainability and how to incorporate it into local planning processes.
75 minutes -
Kevin LoThis course focuses on mindfulness and self-care. These are topics that have grown in popularity over the past few years and even more so in the past few months through the pandemic. This course might be slightly different from other courses in that it is practice and application based.
31 minutes -
Kevin LoEmotional intelligence (EQ) is commonly regarded as a critical competence in the workplace, often argued to be more important than either IQ or personality. Conversely, a lack of emotional intelligence can be viewed as a workplace liability.
44 minutes -
Kevin LoExperts acknowledge that culture is a fuzzy construct. However, with the globalization of work, there is a growing imperative to understand cross-cultural differences. One does not even need to leave a country to encounter cross-cultural differences.
71 minutes -
Kevin LoA myriad of dynamics can influence the behavior of individuals in organizations. Some of these influences can happen at the organizational level. Others might be imparted by how specific teams work.
52 minutes -
Donald ShoupIf you're looking for a place to start learning more about the specifics of parking reform, or you're looking for a way to confirm if you might be the next "Shoupista," look no further.
48 minutes -
Kevin CreditPlanners are frequently concerned with siting public facilities to serve the maximum number of people within a maximum given distance or time.
81 minutes -
The world isn't designed for blind people, with its preponderance of obstacles and visual markers, but so much of urban design history has neglected any consideration of the needs of the blind.
58 minutes
Thousands have used Planetizen Courses
Very dynamic class! Loved the videos and graphs. ("Transportation Planning")
Rachel B.
Loved the content, the presentation, the dynamic speaker! Ending with a call to action, with specific action steps or recommendations, was a fantastic way to make this content applicable. ("Planning for the Autonomous Future")
Megan O.
I can't believe how much I've learned just from these online courses. It's a really great introduction to concepts, with exercises that help you contextualize the learnings.
Lissie R.
As a mother of two young kids, many of the training classes that can receive CM credit from other providers is more than I can afford. Thank you for offering high quality planning classes at a reasonable cost.
Renee L.
Planetizen Courses provides an accessible overview of practical skills that will make each of us more effective and creative planners. Thank you!
Jenni E.
Browse All Courses
The YIMBY Movement: Opportunities and Challenges for Planners
Instructor: Mark Vallianatos
Yes In My Back Yard, most commonly referred to as YIMBY, is a grassroots social movement advocating for an increase in housing development at the regional, city, and neighborhood levels. This course examines YIMBY organizational structures and the roots, goals, setbacks, successes, and tactics of the movement.
Complying With Federal Law in Regulating Telecommunications
Instructor: Alan Weinstein
Telecommunication technologies and facilities are subject to federal law and intersect with land use regulation and development. This course examines the requirements for such technologies as radio antennas, satellite receiving dishes, cellular towers, and 5G DAS wireless networks to comply with federal laws and regulations.
Federal and State Religious Land Use Statutes
Instructor: Alan Weinstein
This course will explain what local governments need to do—and to avoid—when enacting and applying land use regulations that affect religious land uses to comply with the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
Local Regulation of Marijuana Businesses
Instructor: Alan Weinstein
This course examines the role of local regulation in states that have legalized marijuana. Learn about marijuana components and products, federal and state laws, zoning, and social equity issues.
Legal Issues in Sign Codes
Instructor: James Carpentier
This course provides basic knowledge of the legal issues involved in sign codes, focusing on constitutionally-compliant sign codes in the aftermath of U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Reed v Town of Gilbert
Regulating Electronic Message Centers
Instructor: James Carpentier
This course provides practical, solution-focused guidance for regulations that leverage digital sign technology while protecting community aesthetic values and safety concerns. This course is available for free.
Form-Based Codes 101: Legal Aspects
Instructor: Daniel Parolek
This course explores the legal issues of creating and using a form-based code.
Defensible Sign Regulations
Instructor: Eric Damian Kelly
Communities regulate the characteristics of signs to achieve multiple goals, such as limiting driver distraction, maintaining the aesthetic character of the community, and implementing aspects of related plans. This course will show participants how to draft—and adopt—sign ordinances that accomplish those purposes while conforming with the First Amendment.
Regulating Sex Businesses, Part 2: Practical Tips
Instructor: Eric Damian Kelly
This course will provide practical tips for developing local zoning and licensing regulations for sexually oriented businesses. This course builds on material from Part 1 of this two-part series.
Regulating Sex Businesses, Part 1: Principles and Foundations
Instructor: Eric Damian Kelly
This course shows how to lay the foundation for ordinances that mitigate the negative effects of sex businesses while conforming with constitutional requirements under the First Amendment.
Planning and the Law: Procedural Due Process
Instructor: Thomas Hawkins
The United States Constitution protects rights to "due process." In a land use law context, due process is why local governments must treat legislative and quasi-judicial decision making differently. At the end of this course, students will be able to differentiate between legislative and quasi-judicial decisions and to understand the due process implications of the distinction.
Planning and the Law: The Takings Clause
Instructor: Thomas Hawkins
This course will help students understand and explore three legal concepts borne of the United States Constitution's Takings Clause: eminent domain, regulatory takings, and exactions. By the end of the course, students will be able to identify whether a particular government action is at risk of violating the Takings Clause.
Healthy Urban Food Systems: Planning Production Facilities
Instructor: Lauren Dunning
This course examines the role for planning in addressing various forms of urban agriculture as well as many examples from around the country of the statutes, policy, and practices implementing interventions in food production at urban scales.
Healthy Urban Food Systems: Planning Retail Facilities
Instructor: Lauren Dunning
This course introduces information from legal and public health perspectives on the retail side of food systems entities, such as farmers markets, grocery stores, and mobile vending.
Working with Census.gov 1: Background and Geography
Instructor: Chris Williamson
This first of four courses on the Census -- Background and Geography -- will prime you to understand how the Census works, where the data comes from, as well as vital terminology and data sets you should be familiar with in the built environment.
Ethics: Balancing a Business Friendly Planning Environment
Instructor: Carol D. Barrett
Over the past few decades and increasingly over the past several years, the private sector, led by developers, has increasingly courted, conflicted and collaborated with planning departments amid shrinking budgets. As business interests engage and influence public agencies and planning strategy, the role of ethics is of increasing importance for the practicing planner. This is the first of a two-part series that evaluates and analyses the role of planners, from public window staff to department heads, in an increasingly business-friendly environment.
Code Drafting and the Law
Instructor: Mark White
In our complex legal society, understanding the basis of planning law and governing legislation is a must. The course begins with the building blocks of understanding codes, and goes on to explore how statutory authority and constitutional issues impact your everyday decisions. It concludes with a discussion of contemporary legal, quasi-legal and administrative practices.
Ethics: Balancing a Business Friendly Planning Environment, Part 2
Instructor: Carol D. Barrett
Over the past several years, the private sector, led by developers, has increasingly courted, conflicted and collaborated with planning departments amid shrinking budgets. As business interests engage and influence public agencies and planning strategy, the role of ethics is of increasing importance for the practicing planner. This is the second of a two-part series that evaluates and analyses the role of planners, from public window staff to department heads, in an increasingly business-friendly environment.
Legal Issues for Form-Based Codes
Instructor: Mark White
Form-based codes (FBCs) have made a big splash in re-zoning, general plan updates and among land use professionals and stakeholders. Learn what form-based codes are from a legal definition, and the authority for form-based codes. Instructor Mark White evaluates the nuances of due process issues, takings, suburban uses of FBCs and exclusionary zoning.
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