Zoning Code

View of Cleveland, Ohio skyline at sunset

Cleveland Planning Commission Approves New Form-Based Code

If passed by the city council, the new form-based code will be piloted in four neighborhoods.

March 18, 2024 - News 5 Cleveland

White sign on side of tan building with metal siding and green overhang, reading "Dad's Place, a church that loves like family."

Ohio Pastor Criminally Charged for Zoning Violations After Housing the Homeless in His Church

The city of Bryan says it’s a residential use in a commercially zoned property; the church says it’s religious discrimination.

January 28, 2024 - Reason

Ridgewood

A Small City in Suburban New Jersey Plans for its Future

Questions of density and demographics are challenging a planning process in Ridgewood, New Jersey—the first plan update in the village in more than 30 years.

March 9, 2020 - NorthJersey

Zoning Map

Seattle Suburbs Prepare for Light Rail With Zoning for Transit-Oriented Development

Mountlake Terrace is the latest Seattle suburb to make substantial space for new development in anticipation of a forthcoming Link light rail line extending north of Seattle.

October 25, 2019 - The Urbanist

Elfreth's Alley

Philadelphia Planning Commission Approves ADU Bill

The commission recommended a trio of bills focused on historic preservation, including one that would permit accessory dwelling units on historic properties.

August 27, 2019 - PlanPhilly

Iowa State Flag

Presidential Politics Enters the Des Moines Rezoning Debate

Julián Castro, Democratic candidate for president and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, chose a side regarding the controversial rezoning proposal making its way through the Des Moines City Council.

August 15, 2019 - Des Moines Register

Drive-Thru

One Vote Left for Proposed Citywide Ban of New Drive-Throughs in Minneapolis

The city of Minneapolis could achieve another first of land use regulation next week if the City Council votes to prohibit the construction of all drive-through facilities in the entire city.

August 4, 2019 - Star Tribune

Colorado

Zoning Changes Produce Quick Development Results in a Colorado Town

In September, the city of Longmont, Colorado approved new land use and zoning laws. By April, developers were proposing thousands of residential units and hundreds of thousands of square feet in commercial space.

May 23, 2019 - Times-Call

Beach

Florida Man Thought the New Comp Plan Included Zoning Changes

A Florida man is accused of not realizing an entirely separate process would be required to implement the zoning changes recommended in a recently approved comprehensive plan.

April 1, 2019 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Ontario, Canada

Allowing, and Permitting, Rooming Houses Could Solve Multiple Problems at Once

Abuses by landlords and poor living conditions are common in illegal rooming houses around Toronto. Activists want to make them easier to build, and regulate, to add affordable housing options for low-income residents.

February 15, 2019 - The Star

Lower 9th Ward

New Orleans Wants to Loosen Zoning Restrictions in the Lower 9th Ward

New Orleans could make it easier to build new homes on small lots in the struggling Lower 9th Ward.

December 4, 2018 - The Advocate

Suburban Seattle

Everett's New Downtown Plan

Digging into the city of Everett's recent overhaul of its zoning and development regulations in Downtown and adjacent neighborhoods.

December 3, 2018 - The Urbanist

The Embarcadero

Corporate Cafeterias Survive Proposed Legislation to Zone Them Out of Existence

San Francisco's Planning Commission rejected a bill that would have made it illegal to open new office cafeterias, recommending that legislation be crafted to allow these eateries to be open to the public instead.

November 1, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Vancouver

Op-Ed: Treat Vancouver Election as a Referendum on Zoning Decisions

The decision to rezone most of Vancouver to allow for duplexes could have consequences in this weekend's municipal election.

October 18, 2018 - The Vancouver Sun

New York City

A New York City Planner’s Long and Influential History

A look back at Purnima Kapur’s career highlights the long-term impacts of her planning work.

September 10, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

Twitter Headquarters

San Francisco Could Zone Out Workplace Cafeterias

Large corporations providing on-site cafeterias are considered a threat to local restaurant business.

July 31, 2018 - San Francisco Examiner

Detroit, Michigan

Parking Lot Snafu Corrected in the Detroit Zoning Code

One unclear illustration almost reaped a $1 million reward for the Illitch family, owners of the Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Tigers, and the Detroit Red Wings.

July 26, 2018 - Detroit Free Press

New York City

New York's 'Zoning Handbook' Teaches the Intricacies of Planning

Zoning Handbooks are designed to help New Yorkers understand the city's zoning code.

July 11, 2018 - Curbed NY

Seattle South Lake Union

Seattle Considering a Sweeping Parking Reform Package

There are a lot of ways to "right-size" parking, as the city of Seattle is showing with an ordinance under consideration by a City Council committee today.

February 21, 2018 - The Urbanist

Denver, Colorado

Zoning Changes to Battle 'Slot Homes' in Denver

An unintended consequence of the zoning regulations approved in Denver 2010 zoning code has been the proliferation of "slot homes": like rowhouses but without the street-facing entryways and engagement with the public realm.

January 30, 2018 - The Denver Post

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