Articles by Edward McMahon published in the Planning Comm'rs Journal Edward McMahon, a nationally renowned authority on sustainable development, land conservation and urban design, is a senior resident fellow at the Urban Land Institute. McMahon previously served as director of The Conservation Fund's "American Greenways Program" and as president of Scenic America, a national non-profit organization devoted to protecting America's scenic landscapes. McMahon is author of Better Models for Commercial Development, and co-author of Land Conservation Financing and Balancing Nature and Commerce in Gateway Communities. He has written 23 articles and columns for the Planning Commissioners Journal.

A number of Edward McMahon's articles are available for purchase in our Design & Aesthetics reprint set.

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What's So Bad About Zoning? -- Issue 44, Fall 2001
--- Ed McMahon provides a reality check on four "myths" about zoning & land use regulation: 1. Zoning is un-American; 2. Sparsely populated rural areas don’t need to control uses of land; 3. Land use controls will increase taxes and reduce property values; and 4. Planning is a bad idea.

Building Codes Get Smarter -- Issue 43, Summer 2001
--- Building codes often make it financially infeasible to rehabilitate older -- often historic -- buildings by requiring rehab work to meet the same standards as new construction. As Ed McMahon explains, this approach is changing as a growing number of states and localities are adopting more flexible building codes.

Barriers to Better Development -- Issue 42, Spring 2001
--- Despite a growing number of innovative development projects around the country, PCJ columnist Ed McMahon still finds a number of persistent barriers to better development.

Public Buildings Should Set the Standard -- Issue 41, Winter 2001
--- Until the last half of the 20th century, key public buildings were almost always designed and built to be focal points of their communities. Unfortunately, in recent decades the trend has been to build cheaply in peripheral locations. Ed McMahon explores the long-term costs that result. With Sidebars on public buildings, good and bad, across the country. Plus a closer look at the State of Texas' innovative program for preserving its county courthouses.

Road Design -- A Turn Ahead -- Issue 40, Fall 2000
--- Too often new roadways have been designed to be wider and straighter, without much consideration being given to the character of the surrounding community. In recent years, however, there has been a gradual turn towards more thoughtful, context sensitive roadway design. A look at what's behind this change in direction.

School Sprawl -- Issue 39, Summer 2000
--- One of the most important, but often overlooked, contributors to sprawl is the construction of large educational facilities in outlying, undeveloped areas. Edward McMahon takes a look at some of the causes of "school sprawl" -- and at some efforts to combat it.

Green Infrastructure -- Issue 37, Winter 2000
--- Your town, city, or county undoubtedly has an infrastructure plan dealing with water, sewer, roads, and utilities -- the gray infrastructure. But has it planned as well for green infrastructure, such as trails, greenways, river corridors, and bike paths? Edward McMahon discusses the growing interest in planning for systems of green space.

Making a "Visible" Difference -- Issue 36, Fall 1999
--- What does it take to transform a community from "Anyplace USA" into someplace special? A look at five ways of making a visible difference.

Why is Everybody So Mad About Development? -- Issue 35, Summer 1999
--- Why has fighting development become a national pastime? And, what, if anything, can builders do to alleviate public opposition to new development?

Gateway Communities -- Issue 34, Spring 1999
--- Many people enjoy visiting national parks and other scenic attractions. A growing number have also decided to pack up and move to the small cities and towns close to these special places. PCJ columnist Edward McMahon -- a regular visitor to these "gateway" communities -- reports on what he has found.

Smart Growth Trends -- Issue 33, Winter 1999
--- What do suburban town centers, green space as a residential amenity, open space systems, downtown housing, and cooperation between developers and environmentalists have in common? According to Ed McMahon, each represents a hopeful sign on the planning horizon as we near the twenty-first century.

All Development is Not Created Equal -- Issue 32, Fall 1998
--- Successful communities understand that when they say no to development that is contrary to the long-term health of their community, they will almost always get better development in its place.

Bicylists & Pedestrians Belong! -- Issue 31, Summer 1998
--- Bicyclists and pedestrians belong in our communities, advocates Edward McMahon in his look at the economic, health, and environmental benefits of biking and walking.

Billboard Regulation: Part II -- Issue 30, Spring 1998
--- What communities can do if they're serious about controlling billboards. The conclusion of a two-part series.

Billboard Regulation: Part I -- Issue 29, Winter 1998
--- Billboards are bad news for communities, and represent a form of litter. The first of a two-part series on controlling off-premise advertising.

Tourism & the Environment: What's the Connection? -- Issue 28, Fall 1997
--- How a growing number of communities are making the connection between tourism and environmental values.

Stopping Sprawl by Growing Smarter -- Issue 26, Spring 1997
--- Sprawl is causing some of the costliest problems America faces, yet several "myths" have made it more difficult for us to come to grips with sprawl.

Sign Regulation -- Issue 25, Winter 1996-97
--- Too many of our streets look out on a confusing hodge-podge of signs, each trying to out-do the other to get the driver's attention. Regulation of on-premise advertising signs is one important means by which a community can assert control over its physical environment. The end result is not just a more visually attractive environment, but one in which businesses can actually communicate more effectively to their customers.

Environmentally Sensitive Development -- Issue 24, Fall 1996
--- Why more flexible zoning is needed to foster environmentally sound development.

Historic Districts & Property Values -- Issue 23, Summer 1996
--- Historic districts bring communities powerful economic benefits.

Green Enhances Growth -- Issue 22, Spring 1996
--- People care about trees, and not just because they're pleasant to look at look and provide cooling shade. Trees also increase property values and can help boost a community's economic development.

Design Matters -- Issue 21, Winter 1996
--- Good design can mean more jobs and more tourists.

Have It Your Way: Fast-Food Restaurant Design -- Issue 20, Fall 1995
--- Almost everywhere we go, stand identically designed fast-food restaurants. How communities can gain control over fast-food franchise design, and see that it fits the character of the community. Including a tour of cities and towns that have done so.