Two SoHo residents argue that outdated zoning holds the Manhattan neighborhoods back, requiring special permits or variances for many current residential and commercial uses.

A co-op owner and an art gallery owner, both residents of SoHo, make the case for an overhaul to the present zoning of SoHo and NoHo. "Our zoning hasn't been updated in almost 50 years, but the neighborhood has clearly changed," they write. "As a result, the majority of residents and small businesses must have special permits or variances. This is no way to bolster a district."
The last commercial zoning overhaul took place in the 1970s, "when wholesale textile and manufacturing companies were already on their last legs. Ground-floor retail is largely illegal without a special permit." Residents who aren't certified artists also require special permitting.
The authors make a case that brick-and-mortar retail businesses need all the help they can get. But onerous permitting requirements make it difficult for them to operate in SoHo and NoHo. "To support this existing economic engine, we must create a fair, straightforward environment. In this difficult time for retailers, business owners need flexibility."
FULL STORY: Outdated regulations shackling SoHo and NoHo

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling
An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)