Legalizing New Urbanism

Attempts to build more “mixed use” neighborhood and town center developments often hit a very large wall: They are illegal. Across much of the United States, such seemingly common-sense designs are often stopped cold by rigid zoning codes that were enacted in the mid-1950s. Now proponents of New Urbanism are trying to cut through those outdated laws and zoning codes and clear the way for smarter development. And they are having success.