The Western Planner has been the resource for planners in the West since its first publication in 1980. With information and applied articles, we encourage you to scan through the archive below.
For print versions, The Western Planner issues are available (1990–2016) at the following university libraries:
J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah, Special Collections
Las Cruces Zuhl Library at New Mexico State University, General Collection
Montana State University, Bozeman Library Annex (1991–2016)
When Smart Growth America Comes to Town
Bunnell, Kristine
Placemaking in Historic Downtown Cheyenne
Chakraborty, Sreyoshi
Bicycle Tourism in Rural Oregon
Corliss, Catherine et. al.
Keep It Clean Washoe County Health District, Air Quality Management Division's Outreach Program
Hunter, Julie
Art of Public Engagement The Last Column?
Nellis, Lee
Global to Local Connecting Global Oil Markets to Local Considerations
Slaughter, Kyle & Moberly, Paul
A Western Planner in FEMA's Court-Learning About the Community Rating System
Stebleton, Brad
Midtown Emerges on NW Denver Brownfield
Ashby, Matt
What in the world is "spit home" development?
Detweiler, Bill
How GIS has helped Minot Increase Productivity
Erickson, Aleesha
2016 Western Planner Awards
Parker, Angela
2016 Western Planner/MAP Conference Great Falls, Montana
Pava, Dan
Civilian Conservation Corps in Montana: 1933-42
Smith, Michael
Reed v. Town of Gilbert: Assessing the Impact One Year Later
Garvin, Elizabeth
Harley-Davidson Rally Point in Downtown Sturgis, South Dakota
Holdren, Jessica
Reviving a Downtown with Placemaking
Laqua, Rachel
Ranching with Fire and Rangeland Fire Protection Associations
McCormick, Kyle & Wuerzer, Thomas
New Community Assistance Program Helps Communities Plan for Wildfire
Mowery, Molly
Invisibility, the Secret to Successful Wireless Sites
Drake, Jesse
Dealing with the Public during the large infrastructure project
Lyman, Mark
Art of Public Engagement Public Engagement Gone Wrong
Nellis, Lee
Federal Lands in the West: A Few Facts and Figures
Stowell, Candace
Free Up the Content! Solving the usability conundrum in our plans and government documents
Sweum, Paul
Changing Climate Heats up Ski Resort Summer Uses in Nevada
Exline, Nicholas D.
Complete Sustainability has Three "E's"- Does Yours?
Garvin, Elizabeth
Communicating Climate Change in the Southwest
Mortimer, Katherine
Art of Public Engagement Elephants and Riders
Nellis, Lee
Foresight and Voter Approval Set the Stage for Water Security in Wyoming
Parkin, Darren
State Control of Federal Lands- Legal or Not?
Garvin, Elizabeth
Art of Public Engagement - Rational Thinking
Nellis, Lee
Seeing Colleges and Universities as Living Parts of Our Communities
Stebleton, Brad
Ways to the West: How Getting out of our Cars is Reclaiming America's Frontier
Stowell, Candace
Land Trusts in the WP Region: An Impressive But Uneven Record
Wright, John B.
Montana's Targeted Economic Development District Act
Cornish, Janet & Windemaker, Lynette
Urbanized! A New Metropolitan Planning Organization in a Rural Region
Coxworth, Daniel
Urban Design Matters
Ashby, Matt
Checking in on form-based codes in Western communities
Garvin, Elizabeth
Sustainability and the Comprehensive Plan
Mugler, Larry
Art of Public Engagement - The Persistence of Polarization
Nellis, Lee
2015 Western Planner Award Winners
Nellms, Megan
The Complete Illustrated Book of Development Definitions (4th Edition)
Stowell, Candace
Ethics….What is that? And how do you train for it?
Vogt, Amber
Ask Millenials About Millenials
Brockmeyer, Richard & Collins, Julia
Doubling Down in Small-Scale Hydro-Government That Works
Hennigh, Gary
Understanding and Implementing Mixed-Use Devevlopment in the West
Jensen, Aric
Art of Public Engagement - The Kiss Principle
Nellis, Lee
In Defense of Planning- Creating Process Advocates
Rider, Katherine
Minot, North Dakota- Small city, checkered past, bright future
Borjeson, Scott
Climate Change Resiliency Planning
Follingstad, Gretel
Opening up the Universe with Dark Skies Regulations
Garvin, Elizabeth
Art of Public Engagement - The Power of Story
Nellis, Lee
Thinking About Regulating the Sharing Economy
Garvin, Elizabeth
The Future of Coal-Applying Scenario Planning to a Critical Issue
Hansen, Mike & Slaughter, Kyle
Solar Power Expands Across the West
Harmstead, Scott
Art of Public Engagement - Making Engagement Fun
Nellis, Lee
Living Off the Grid, Inside the Grid
Watson, Jayna
Agenda 21: The New Private Property Rights Frontier
Aune, Erick
Featured Planner - Brandon Cammarata, Cheyenne, WY
Walker, Brett
Boom Bust Repeat
Diemer, Marc & Wilkerson, Brian
Planning and Finance - Tax Incentives at the Local Level
Dugan, Patrick L.
RMLUI Legal Corner: Regulating for Water Conservation: Water Smart
Garvin, Elizabeth
Land Use Planning and Water- A Call to Action
Iturreria, Julio
2014 Western Planner Awards Recognize Excellence
Millar, Candi
The New Billings Public Library: A Community Decision
Millar, Candi
Art of Engagement - Planning Inside the Box?
Nellis, Lee
Planning and Finance - Property Taxes and Local Tax Structures
Dugan, Patrick L.
RMLUI Legal Corner: Digital Sign Regulations
Garvin, Elizabeth
Art of Engagement - Who's For? Who's Against?
Nellis, Lee
Redevelopment of Mobile Home Parks
Sommer, Shelby, et. al.
Urban Planning in the Great Basin: An Interview with Tim Sullivan
Stowell, Candace
Planners Toolbox: Comprehensive Planning Revisited
Weil, Larry
Lake Tahoe local and regional planning policies
Wilkins, Suzanne
Planning and Finance - Property Taxes Among the Various States
Dugan, Patrick L.
New Research examines how to combat zombie subdivisions and other excess entitlements
Flint, Anthony
RMLUI Legal Corner: Social Media and the First Amendment
Garvin, Elizabeth
Salt Lake County at the Crossroads
Gellner, David
Art of Engagement - Building Transparency and Trust
Nellis, Lee
The Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-42: A Model of Cooperation, A Blessing for the West
Smith, Michael
RMLUI Legal Corner: Koontz vs. St. John's River Water Management District
Garvin, Elizabeth
Art of Engagement - Being Open to Learning While Under Fire
Nellis, Lee
Salt Lake City by Foot, Bike, and Transit
Quinn-Hurst, Colin
Ethical Planning & Social Media
Sommer, Shelby
Planner's Toolbox: Onsite Inspections Done Right
Stebleton, Brad
School Districts and Local Governments: Partnering For Success
Valdez, John, Millar, Candi, & Thomas, Sharon
Using county zoning and infrastructure to create a new city in SD
Vogt, Amber
Ten Ideas for Job Applicants
Watson, Jayna
What is Agenda 21?
Apel, Mark
Community Gardens- A Common Sense Approach to Community Resilience
Apel, Mark
Agenda 21: The New Private Property Rights Frontier
Aune, Erick
Fiscal Analytics: A Planning Revolution in the Making
Bacon, James
Using all 26 Letters of the Alphabet
Cerise, Kristina
Agenda 21: Best Practices for Public Engagement More Relevant than Ever
Chaplick, Joan & Fiore, Ellie
Survey on the Impact of Agenda 21 Activism in the West
Girt, Rachel
The Western Planner Hands out Annual Awards
Pava, Dan
Fairbanks, Alaska: A Community Struggling with Air Quality
Cotter, Patrick
Planning and Finance - Fun with Bond Financing
Dugan, Patrick L.
Historic Preservation Butte, MT positions itself to grow heritage tourism
Jarvis, Jim
40 Years on the Oregon Land Use Trail
Knight, James
Art of Engagement - Nurturing a Shared Purpose
Nellis, Lee
Washington's Shoreline Master Plans
Wright, Wayne
Planning and Finance - When is a fee not a user fee?
Dugan, Patrick L.
Balancing Lake Tahoe
Lewandowski, Adam
Book Review- Reshaping Metropolitan America
Liming, Reed
Art of Engagement - 4 Steps to help make your community conversation productive
Nellis, Lee
Regulating Dick and Jane: First Amendment issues in SRE Real Estate vs, the City of Sturgis
Orsbon, Ben
Alaska's first "Housing First" project- Karluk Manor
Tuttell, Maryellen
Featured Planner- Brandon Cammarata, Cheyenne, WY
Walker, Brett
Idaho Students Compete in 2013 Future City Competition
Cecil, Jon & Linhart, Steve
Planning and Finance - Risky Business
Dugan, Patrick L.
Art of Engagement - Preserve the Wholeness in Landscapes and Cultivate a Community Life……….
Nellis, Lee
When Planning Becomes Most Fowl
Radtke, Jason
What's So Great About Sandoval County?
Stebleton, Brad
A look into the past, present, and future of Lead, South Dakota
Vogt, Amber
Bargain GIS- ARCMAP Alternatives and Other Tools
Williams, Wells
Finding Oprah, emotional intelligence and my next planning position
Cecil, Jon
Planning and Finance - Priming the Planning Pump The Legacy of HUD 701 Grants
Dugan, Patrick L.
Climate Adaptation Planning: Communities for Resiliency
Follingstad, Gretel
Art of Engagement - How to get a more representative audience in the room
Nellis, Lee
Going Green- Southern Nevada provides efficient transit for tourists and residents…….
Packer, Adrienne
Featured Planner- Dan Hanson, Brookings, SD
Putnam, Neil
How to Assemble a Successful Mixed-Use District
Reeves, Michelle
Planning Commissioners Corner - Wearing Two Hats?
Apel, Mark
Storm water woes worry Idaho planners
Blanchard, Chris & Eberle, W.
Planning and Finance - Integrating perspectives from planners, engineers, and finance officials
Dugan, Patrick L.
Internships: An invaluable resource during tight budget
Harper, Michael
A rancher's insights on trails planning provide lessons in public involvement
Mendoza, Cindy
Art of Engagement - The World Series, Old Faithful, and the Art of Public Engagement
Nellis, Lee
Sedalia, CO - The little Western town that could
Rider, Katherine
Evolve, rethink, and reinvent
Girt, Rachel
Impressions from Retirement - Three years later and still looking forward
Harper, Michael
Bolder Than Boulder - Building consensus for mobility in small, rural communities
Hernandez, Carlos & McKennan, Victoria
New Community Assistance Program Helps Communities Plan for Wildfire
Mowery, Molly
Art of Engagement - Planning will not work unless we listen with respect
Nellis, Lee
Outstanding Examples of planning in the West -2012 Western Planner Awards
Pava, Dan
Planning Commissioner's Corner - Need Help? Steps to well thought out staff reports
Stebleton, Brad
Blast from the Past - Revisiting the origins of the Western Planner
Stebleton, Brad
Book Review - Urban West Revisited by James Weatherby and Stephanie Witt
Cecil, Jon
Featured Planner - Ed Courton, Blazing the trail in Dickinson , ND
Courton, Pam
Planning and Finance - If high density reduces costs, why are public services in New York City so costly?
Dugan, Patrick L.
Revising New Mexico statutes for comprehensive planning
Follingstad, Mary
WP Conference Overview
Girt, Rachel
The Art of Engagement - How do you avoid being a desk-bound bureaucrat?
Nellis, Lee
Libby, MT climbs out from under the Superfund stigma
Smith, Kristin
Supporting Community Gardening
Ubic, Helen
Planning and Finance - Canadian resource gives comprehensive overview of capital financing strategies
Dugan, Patrick L.
COLORADO: Community planning and development help shape congressional districts in the state
Heller, Erica
IDAHO: Ada County rewrites access management plan
Inselman, Gary & Little, Christy
The Art of Engagement - Following the energy
Nellis, Lee
Western Water Woes Continue
Raymond, Jared
Four cities. four approaches to sustainability
Toon, Kevin
West Fargo, ND promotes affordable single-family housing developments
Weil, Larry
Angela Bordegaray
Bordegaray, Angela
Planning and Finance - The Price of Sprawl: Perverse Cities
Dugan, Patrick L.
Residents along the Wasatch Front in Utah find a better way to grow
Halford, Val
Henderson updates downtown strategies
HRA
The Art of Engagement - Don't let stress impact planning
Nellis, Lee
Code Drafting Guidelines
Siegel, Scot
Healthy By Design is Becoming New Mantra for Billings, MT
Spalding, Juliet & Hanson, Hilary
Federal Lands in the West: A Few Facts and Figures
Stowell, Candace
Lake Tahoe's Blueprint to a sustainable future
TRPA
Planner's Toolbox - New online tools can help Western Planners
Cecil, Jon
Planning and Finance - Using finance theory to understand the role of local government
Dugan, Patrick L.
Planning Commissioner's Corner - Strategies to help overcome NIMBY opposition
Turisk, Michael
Park City tackles climate change
Wortman, Dave
Planning and Finance - When is debt not a dirty word?
Dugan, Patrick L.
Using dialogue to bring people together
Nellis, Lee
To Avoid a Taking: Special Assessments Must Create Special Benefits
Orsbon, Ben
Western Planner Awards
Stebleton, Brad
2011 Western Planner/APA Four Corners Conference Highlights
Stebleton, Brad
Featured Planner - Makita Hill, Bernalillo, New Mexico
Stebleton, Brad
Farmers' and Public Markets: One Intermountain City's Experience
Cecil, Jon
Featured Planner - Jenah Thornborrow, AICP, Garden City, Idaho
Cecil, Jon
Planning and Finance - Time for Another Look at Housing Prices and Smart Growth
Dugan, Patrick L.
Innovative Local Government in the Far North - Local Borough Government Comes to Arctic Alaska- But With a Struggle
Finkler, Earl
Daycare and Registered Sex Offenders
Kurtz, Steve
Rebuilding America: APA National Infrastructure Investment Task Force
McMahon, Kathleen
The Art of Public Engagement - Follow the Energy
Nellis, Lee
Planning Commissioner's Corner - Reflections on Many Years Serving a Planning and Zoning Commission
Towler, Bill
Planner's Toolbox - Land Use Community of Practice An Extension Resource for Western Planners
Apel, Mark
Public Involvement Strategies in the Rural West
Cotter, Patrick
Creating Self-Sufficient Communities in the West
Dill, Tina
Planning and Finance - Even Wetland Management Can Affect Finances
Dugan, Patrick L.
Featured Planner - Robert "Bob" Nelson Jr., Deadwood, South Dakota
Vogt, Amber
Planning Commissioner's Corner - Planning in Rural Areas
Weil, Larry
Planning and Finance - New Challenges on "Who Pays for Growth?"
Dugan, Patrick L.
Balancing Energy Development and Scenic Byway Designations
Kaliszewski, Nadia
Planning Commissioner's Corner - Tips for Effective Comprehensive Plan Updates
Meyer, Bob
Planner's Toolbox - Getting a Handle on Nonconformities
Stebleton, Brad
Featured Planner - Mike McMahon, Box Elder, South Dakota
Watson, Jayna