An assistant professor from Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability argues that highway-centric development in the region is unsustainable, and presses for denser development as well as more local and regional control over the planning process. (Arizona Republic — Aaron Golub)

A Newark resident writes that building denser communities and creating more viable transit can help us save money, save energy, and save the planet. (Delaware Voice — Peggy Schultz)

Armed with a $1.2 million federal grant, a group of suburbs outside the Twin Cities will soon be building bike lanes and walking paths that will connect to the University of Minneapolis campus. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune — Jean Hopfensperger)

With gas prices high and commuters looking to live closer to work and amenities, the Washington Post editorial board says that our next president, whomever it may be, will need to support smart growth planning and push for more sustainable communities.

A statewide proposal in California to encourage infill development, shorten commute times, and limit C02 emissions could have a big impact around San Diego, where regional planners are working to make housing more affordable and closer to jobs. (San Diego Union Tribune — Michael Gardner)

America’s obesity problem has a direct connection to the neighborhoods we occupy — and those of us fortunate enough to live in compact, walkable neighborhoods are reaping the health benefits. (MSNBC — Steve Mitchell)

Gas prices and the housing crisis have jolted Americans awake — and made many reconsider whether their suburbs should be built as car-centered, sprawling landscapes or walkable, cohesive communities. (USA Today — Haya El Nasser)

With the private sector in California responding emphatically to the state’s initiative encouraging new housing in urban areas, one journalist says that smart growth “appears to be getting smarter every day.” (Ventura County Star — Timm Herdt)

Inexpensive land and inexpensive fuel may have helped create sprawl, but a shift in global markets is changing that paradigm — and may very well change the way we build our communities. (U.S. News and World Report — Brett Schulte)

The numbers from Business Week back up what many of us already know — home prices near the center of big cities have stayed relatively stable, but homeowners in suburban or exurban communities are facing massive loss of value. (Business Week — Prashant Gopal)