When I opened my email this morning I was delighted to see that the City of Flagstaff unanimously approved a SmartCode based TND ordinance. The ordinance, created to make a recent Dover Kohl designed project called Juniper Point legal, allows a more compact, pedstrian friendly urban pattern to be established within the City. This is a crucial step in providing alternatives to business as usual sprawl development. Fortunately, more and more cities - From Jamestown, Rhode Island to Miami, Florida, to Montgomery, Alabama - are making smart growth a legal and easy choice.
Zoning
It's Not 'Zoning', But It's Zoning
This commentary argues that, though it may not be called "zoning", Houston has plenty of land use restrictions and guidelines.
The Houston Chronicle
More Fast Food Makes Fatter Neighborhoods
High rates of obesity and diabetes are being correlated to high concentrations of fast food restaurants in neighborhoods. Some look to zoning as a solution.
The Los Angeles Times
Areas of Stability and Change
Two new classifications of land in Denver -- areas of change and areas of stability -- are moving the city's redevelopment and densification plans forward.
The Rocky Mountain News
Do Houston Residents Want Zoning?
With planning likely to become a major issue in next year's mayoral campaign, a recent survey shows that most residents would support new rules -- including possibly land use zoning -- to manage the region's sprawling development.
The Houston Chronicle
Residents Sue Over State Density Bonus Law
Upset about the effect of California State Bill 1818's override of local zoning restrictions, a Los Angeles resident has sued the city to overturn its density bonus ordinance. Others may soon follow.
Los Angeles Daily News
Looking at Houston from Vancouver
A Canadian's perspective on the "planner-free" city of Houston, America's fourth most populous city.
The Globe and Mail
Saving The Neighborhood, One Signature At A Time
A arcane provision in the New York City Charter that increases the threshold for a zoning change approval to a three-fourths vote of the city council may help opponents defeat a proposed rezoning of 125th Street in Harlem.
The New York Times
Philly's Planning Process Revamp Moving Ahead Slowly
With a growing consensus for change, the challenge for the Philadelphia's leaders now is figuring out how to actually fix the city's planning and zoning system.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Los Angeles' Brawl With Sprawl
Officials in Los Angeles were successful in implementing high-density growth policies to curb sprawl. However, a disconnect between culture, transportation policy, and the real estate market may have disastrous consequences.
The Economist
Street Trees Are New York's Newest Accessory
A new zoning requirement passed by the New York City Planning Commission will require all new developments to plant trees along the street.
The New York Times
Viewing L.A.'s Density Debate From the Passenger's Seat
A Los Angeles Times columnist hears about the Los Angeles density controversy and sees its implications during a recent drive around town with County Commissioner Zev Yaroslavsky.
The Los Angeles Times
Bringing Harlem Back
New York City officials hope that a recently approved rezoning for Harlem will revive the neighborhood.
The Economist
Zoning Changes Bring Good and Bad in Downtown Seattle
Zoning changes in downtown Seattle have created a more dense area, as was intended. But the zoning changes are also bringing some unintended consequences.
The Stranger
Beneath the Surface of L.A.'s Densification
This article from the LA Weekly looks at efforts by the city planning department and key politicians to increase the density of the city.
LA Weekly
Highway Zoning?
Mon, 06/25/2007 - 08:38
The Oscar-winning film The Lives of Others recalls that famous question about governments who spy on their citizens: Who will watch the watchers? (Answer: Alberto Gonzalez.) A similar, if less cloak-and-dagger question applies to planning: Who will zone the zoners? While governments use zoning to keep polluting uses away from homes, what if the biggest polluter in a city is a government use?
In most cities today, the most common polluting use is exempt from zoning: highways.
Does planning = zoning?
Mon, 05/21/2007 - 08:06
I would like to think that the overwhelming response to the question posed in the title would be a resounding, "No!" I never gave the issue much thought before last week because frankly, I didn't really need to. Working in a city like Philadelphia where the overwhelming percentage of proposed projects requires a zoning variance, we've trained ourselves to work within an imperfect system and make the best of what's at hand. (It should be noted that Philadelphia is about to embark upon a process to re-vamp the zoning code, but that is for another post in the future). More importantly, the issues faced by some neighborhoods go a lot deeper than zoning. So why this post?
