Rebecca Retzlaff

Education

PhD in Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago.

MS in Historic Preservation, School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

BS in Urban and Regional Planning, Michigan State University.

Professional Experience

American Planning Association, Research Department, 1997-1999 and 2002-2006

University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program, 2002-2006

University of Illinois at Chicago, Great Cities Institute, 2001-2002

City of Detroit Planning and Development Department, 1999-2001

About Me

Rebecca Retzlaff, PhD, AICP, is a professor in the Master of Community Planning Program and director of the interdisciplinary Academic Sustainability Program. Her research interests are planning law and planning history. Her research in planning law analyzes innovative planning tools such as green building regulations and ocean zoning. Her most recent research in planning history has focused on how government officials used planning and infrastructure as a weapon during the mid-twentieth century in Alabama. She often combines her two areas of research by analyzing the history of significant legal decisions in planning.

Retzlaff is the author of the legal treatise, Ohio Planning and Zoning Law, with Kenneth Pearlman, Alan Weinstein, John Bredin, and Stuart Meck, which was recently cited by the Ohio Supreme Court when it reversed a prior decision based on analysis provided in the book. The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals also recently cited this work. Retzlaff recently edited the book, Justice and the Interstates: The Racist Truth about Urban Highways, with Ryan Reft and Amanda Phillips DeLucas, which discusses race and the U.S. Interstate Highway system.

Retzlaff teaches classes in planning history, historic preservation planning, land use law, and land use planning. Her classes typically include a significant outreach and field work component. Her classes have worked with small towns in Alabama such as Opelika, Loachapoka, and Tallassee, as well as larger cities such as Mobile and Montgomery. Class projects include historic preservation plans, healthy community plans, zoning reform reports, and neighborhood plans. Through the fieldwork component of classes, students get firsthand experience in community engagement.

Research Interests

Sustainability, racial planning history, local development regulation, historic preservation planning, Alabama planning history.

Publications

Books

• Ryan Reft, Amanda Phillips DeLucas, and Rebecca Retzlaff, eds. Justice and the Interstates: The Racist Truth about Urban Highways (Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 2023).
• Stuart Meck, Kenneth Pearlman, Alan Weinstein, John Bredin, and Rebecca Retzlaff, Ohio Planning and Zoning Law (New York: Thompson Reuters, new edition published annually)     
• Stuart Meck, Rebecca Retzlaff, and Jim Schwab, State of Tribal Transportation Programs (Washington, D.C.: Transportation Research Board, 2006)
• Stuart Meck and Rebecca Retzlaff, and Jim Schwab. Regional Approaches to Affordable Housing (Chicago: American Planning Association, 2003).

Book Chapters

• Ryan Reft, Amanda Phillips de Lucas, and Rebecca Retzlaff, “How Can a Highway be Racist?” in Ryan Reft, Amanda Phillips de Lucas, and Rebecca Retzlaff, eds., Justice and the Interstates: The Racist Truth about Urban Highways (Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 2023), 1-15
• Rebecca Retzlaff and Jocelyn Zanzot, “The Interstates, Racism, and the Need for Peace and Reconciliation: The Case of Highway Routing in Alabama” in Ryan Reft, Amanda Phillips de Lucas, and Rebecca Retzlaff, eds., Justice and the Interstates: The Racist Truth about Urban Highways (Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 2023), 35-52.
• Stuart Meck and Rebecca Retzlaff (2008) “Commentary: The Zoning Hearing Examiner: Origins, Evolution, and Status in Statutes and Case Law.” In Popper, Andrew, Patricia Salkin, and David Avitabile, A Companion to Bordering on Madness: An American Land Use Tale, 2^nd ed. (Durham, North Carolina: Carolina Academic Press), 204-206.

Journal Articles

• Binita Mahato, Rebecca Retzlaff, and Xi Chen, “Planning, Civil Rights, and African American Voting: The Case of Montgomery, Alabama” Journal of Planning Education and Research (accepted and in press).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Desegregation of City Parks and the Civil Rights Movement: The Case of Oak Park in Montgomery, Alabama” Journal of Urban History 47, No. 4 (2021), 715-752.
• Rebecca Retzlaff, “The Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Racial Basis for Interstate Highways and Urban Renewal” Journal of Urban History 47, No. 6 (2021): 1031-13476.
• Rebecca Retzlaff, “Catholics versus the Interstates: The Fight to Protect Catholic Schools from Interstate Highways in Birmingham, Alabama” Journal of Transport History 41, no. 3 (2020): 402-433.
• Rebecca Retzlaff, “Connecting School Segregation to Urban Renewal and Interstate Highway Planning: The Case of Birmingham, Alabama” Journal of Planning History 19, no. 4 (2020) 256-280.
• Rebecca Retzlaff (2019) “Interstate Highways and the Civil Rights Movement: The Case of I-85 and the Oak Park Neighborhood in Montgomery, Alabama” Journal of Urban Affairs 41, no. 7 (2019): 930-959.
• Retzlaff, Rebecca and Charlene LeBleu (2018) “Marine Spatial Planning: Exploring the Role of Planning Practice and Research” Journal of Planning Literature 33(4): 466-491.
• Stuart Meck and Rebecca Retzlaff “Planning for Urban Design in the 1960s: The Case of the San Francisco Urban Design Plan” Journal of Urban Design 23, No. 1 (2017): 94-122.
• Rebecca Retzlaff and Sarah Sisser “The Real Story behind Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council” Planning Perspectives 29, No. 3 (2014): 275-300.
• Stuart Meck and Rebecca Retzlaff “Jimmy Carter’s Urban Policy: An Analysis and An Appraisal” Journal of Planning History 11, No. 3 (2012): 242-280.
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Developing Policies for Green Buildings: What can the United States Learn from the Netherlands?” Sustainability: Science, Practice, Policy 6, No. 1 (2010): 28-38.
• Rebecca Retzlaff “The Illinois Forest Preserve District Act of 1913 and the Emergence of Metropolitan Park System Planning in the USA” Planning Perspectives 25, No. 4 (2010): 433-455.
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Green Buildings and Building Assessment Systems: A New Area of Interest for Planners” Journal of Planning Literature 24, no. 1 (2009): 3-21.
• Rebecca Retzlaff “The use of LEED in Planning and Development Regulation: An Exploratory Analysis” Journal of Planning Education and Research 29, no. 1 (2009): 67-77.
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Green Building Assessment Systems: A Framework and Comparison for Planners” Journal of the American Planning Association 74, no. 4 (2008): 505-519.
• Stuart Meck and Rebecca Retzlaff “The Emergence of Growth Management in the U.S.: the Case of Golden v. Planning Board of Town of Ramapo, and its Aftermath” Journal of Planning History 7, no. 2 (2008): 113-157.
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Planning for Broad-Based Environmental Protection: A Look Back at the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan” Urban Ecosystems 11, no. 1 (2008): 45-63.
• Stuart Meck and Rebecca Retzlaff “A Familiar Ring: A Retrospective on the First National Conference on City Planning (1909)” Planning and Environmental Law 61, no. 4 (2008): 3-10.
• Stuart Meck and Rebecca Retzlaff “The Zoning Hearing Examiner: Its Origins, and its Status in Case Law” Planning and Environmental Law 59, no. 7 (2007): 3-10.

Professional Publications

• Rebecca Retzlaff “Green Buildings: Selecting the Right Building Assessment System for Your Jurisdiction” IQ Report, International City Management Association, 41, no. 3 (2009).
• John Gaber, Rebecca Retzlaff, and Erin Swindall “Alabama Coastal Smart Growth Outreach Project: Final Report” report prepared with support from the Mississippi State University Coastal Research Extension Center (2008).
• Rebecca Retzlaff, Falguni Patel, and Rajesh Sawant “Place-Based Green Building: Integrating Local Environmental Planning into Green Building Guidelines” report prepared with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2008).
• Rebecca Retzlaff and Erin Swindall“Macon County, Alabama, Historic Preservation Planning Analysis” report prepared with support from the Appalachian Regional Commission (207). 
• Rebecca Retzlaff and Brandon Bias “Franklin County Ecotourism Development Strategy” report prepared with support from the Appalachian regional Commission (2007).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Green Buildings Present New Opportunities for Planning Commissioners” The Commissioner (Fall 2007).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Habitat Loss: Global Crisis with a Local Solution” Zoning Practice (January 2007).
• Stuart Meck and Rebecca Retzlaff “Planning 1-2-3” report prepared for the Chicago Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and the Metropolitan Planning Council (2006).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Changes come to Planning Accreditation Criteria” Practicing Planner (December 2006).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Green Buildings: Onus or Bonus?” Zoning Practice (April 2005).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Preserving the Last Green Valley” Planning Magazine (March 2005).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “California Enacts Form-Based Zoning Legislation” Zoning Practice (January 2005).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Massachusetts Town Approves Record Impact Fee From Lowes” Zoning Practice (November 2004).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “New Jersey Passes Transfer of Development Rights Legislation” Zoning Practice (September 2004).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Inglewood Voters Say No to Wal-Mart” Zoning Practice (August 2004).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Illinois Communities Limit Bank Branches and Nonretail Uses in Retail Districts” Zoning Practice (May 2004).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Agritourism Zoning Down on the Farm” Zoning Practice (March 2004).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Changes to New Jersey Affordable Housing Law” Zoning News (October 2003).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Montgomery County Mulls Housing Overhaul” Zoning News (September 2003).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Busses Replace Private Cars on Zion Park Scenic Drive” Planning Magazine (July 2000).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Compuware Brings More Workers to Central Detroit” Planning Magazine (February 2000).
• Rebecca Retzlaff “Lake Tahoe Preservation Case” Zoning News (May 1999).
• American Planning Association “A Smart Growth Agenda for Illinois” report prepared with support from the Chicago Metropolitan Planning Council (contributor) (1999).

Courses Taught

• POLI 7960: Race, Planning, and Policy
• POLI 2120: Cities and Urbanization
• CPLN 7350: Planning History and Theory
• CPLN 7430: Land Use Law
• CPLN 5040/6040: Land Use Planning
• CPLN 5400/6400: Historic Preservation Planning
• CPLN 5070/6070: Environmental Planning
• CPLN 5120/6120: Environmental Policy
• CPLN 7600/7610: Synthesis Studio
• CPLN 5110/6110: Sustainable Urbanism and Growth Management