David Rouse has written extensively on a variety of planning and design topics. Recent publications include the Managing Disruption Briefing Book, co-written with Benjamin Hitchings for the UNC School of Government’s Growing Practical Solutions for North Carolina program, and The Comprehensive Plan, co-written with Rocky Piro and published by Routledge Press.
Featured Publications
Managing Disruption in a Rapidly Changing World: A Briefing Book for Decision-Makers in North Carolina (UNC School of Government, 2024)
Twenty-first century communities face a common challenge: how to deal with the accelerating, disruptive effects of change. Prepared for government decision-makers in North Carolina, the Managing Disruption Briefing Book provides a resource that can be used by communities across the nation seeking to manage the impacts of change in an increasing uncertain world. It presents a framework structured around drivers of change, which are macro-level forces – social, technological, economic, and environmental – that significantly affect local communities. The Briefing Book describes how to use the framework, provides concise write-ups on 16 representative drivers of change, and lays out a six-step process for how local and regional governments can prepare strategic readiness plans to increase their resilience. With this resource in hand, decision-makers can identify the drivers of change that are most relevant to their community, assess the implementation measures that will help them best respond, and work systematically to better prepare for the future.
The Comprehensive Plan: Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Communities for the 21st Century (Routledge, 2022)
“Comprehensive plans are blueprints to manage growth and change and David Rouse and Rocky Piro teamed up to write a masterpiece. The Comprehensive Plan: Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Communities for the 21st Century, is a gift to the planning profession that will serve as the go-to reference book for practitioners, educators and students for decades to come. The Comprehensive Plan is truly “comprehensive” in nature. The book covers the origins and purpose of comprehensive planning, the process, the substance and implementation of a plan, and courageously takes on vital 21st century challenges such as climate change, the global pandemic, institutional racism and other social justice issues. The book is loaded with case studies and examples from contemporary comprehensive plans. I appreciate the genius that went into this book, but more importantly, I appreciate the passion and all-inclusive nature that will help planners, decision-makers and communities make great places happen.” Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, President, American Institute of Certified Planners
Hitchings, Benjamin and David Rouse. Managing Disruption in a Rapidly Changing World: A Briefing Book for Decision-Makers in North Carolina. Research and written for the UNC School of Government, 2024.
Hitchings, Benjamin and David Rouse. Triangle Trends Report: Tracking Disruption. Researched and written for the Triangle J Council of Governments, 2022.
Rouse, David and Econsult Solutions, Inc. Financing Green Infrastructure: Lessons from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Washington, DC: International City-County Management Association (ICMA), 2022.
“The Future of the Comprehensive Plan,” Journal of Comparative Urban Law and Policy, Georgia State University of Law, Volume 5, Issue 1, 2022.
Rouse, David and Rocky Piro. The Comprehensive Plan: Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Communities for the 21st Century. London and New York: Routledge, 2022.
Hurtado, Petra, Benjamin Hitchings, and David Rouse. Smart Cities: Integrating Technology, Community, and Nature (PAS Report 599). Chicago: American Planning Association, 2021.
Turner, Scott and David Rouse. “Green infrastructure and climate change – a One Water approach.” New England Water Environment Association Journal, Volume 54, No. 4, Winter 2020.
“Green Infrastructure and Resilience.” Chapter in The Routledge Handbook of Urban Resilience, Michael Burayidi et. al., ed. London and New York: Routledge, 2020.
“Commentary: The Implications of Autonomous Vehicles for Urban Design Practice.” Journal of Urban Design, Routledge, published online 26 November 2019.
Rouse, David and Ignacio Bunster-Ossa. “Landscape Planning, Design, and Green Infrastructure; Green Infrastructure: A Landscape Approach.” Published in Planning for Climate Change: A Reader in Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Design for Resilient Cities, Hamin, Elisabeth, Yaser Abunnasr, Robert L. Ryan, eds., pp. 273-281. New York: Routledge Press, 2018.
“Social Equity, Parks, and Gentrification.” Parks & Recreation Magazine, National Recreation and Park Association, July 2018.
“How to Plan for Autonomous Vehicles; Future Research Needs.” Published in Preparing Communities for Autonomous Vehicles, Jennifer Henaghan, ed., pp. 18-35. American Planning Association, 2018.
Reiner, Mark and David Rouse. “Dependency model: reliable infrastructure and the resilient, sustainable, and livable city.” Journal of Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure, Volume 3, Issue 3, pp. 103-108, December 2017.
“Green Infrastructure and Park System Planning.” Great Urban Parks Campaign Briefing Paper 3, American Planning Association, 2017.
Wang, Na et. al. “Ten questions concerning future buildings beyond zero energy and carbon neutrality.” Building and Environment, Volume 119, pp. 169-182, July 2017 (contributing author).
Rouse, David and Shannon McElvaney. “Comprehensive Planning and Geodesign.” PAS Memo, American Planning Association, March/April 2016.
McElvaney, Shannon and David Rouse. “Geodesign and the Future of Planning.” PAS Memo, American Planning Association, March/April 2015.
Godschalk, David R. and David C. Rouse. Sustaining Places: Best Practices for Comprehensive Plans (PAS Report 578). Chicago: American Planning Association, 2015.
“Green Infrastructure and Post-Disaster Recovery.” Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery Briefing Paper 10, American Planning Association, 2014.
Rouse, David C. and Ignacio Bunster-Ossa. Green Infrastructure: A Landscape Approach (PAS Report 571). Chicago: American Planning Association, 2013.
Templeton, Nancy and David Rouse. “The Role of Tree Preservation Ordinances in Green Infrastructure.” Zoning Practice, Volume 29, No. 9. American Planning Association, September 2012.
Godschalk, David R. and William R. Anderson. Sustaining Places: The Role of the Comprehensive Plan (PAS Report 567). Chicago: American Planning Association, 2012 (contributing author).
Hara, Mami and David Rouse. “Regulating Green: Is Your Municipality Promoting Green Infrastructure?” Zoning Practice, Volume 27, No. 9. American Planning Association, September 2010.
Rouse, David and Nancy Zobl. “Form-Based Development Codes.” Zoning Practice, Volume 21, No. 5. American Planning Association, May 2004.
Rouse, David, Todd Michael Chandler, and Jon Arason. “The 21st Century Comprehensive Plan.” Paper presented at the American Planning Association National Planning Conference, Seattle, April 1999. “A Values-Driven Approach to Comprehensive Planning.”Paper presented at the American Planning Association National Planning Conference, Boston, April 1998.