Opinion: The Zoning Reform Discourse Needs a Dose of Reality

Lately it seems like people are forgetting that zoning is a legal process, requiring the support of elected officials.

3 minute read

August 3, 2020, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Derelict Commercial Buildings

Cities aren't want they used to be, and zoning reform should reflect that reality. | Sherman Cahal / Shutterstock

Jason Segedy, director of planning and urban development for the city of Akron, Ohio, writes about the recent push for wide scale zoning reform, for various ideological reasons. 

"The call for reform in is increasingly cross-ideological, involving voices from the left, primarily concerned with social justice and economic inequality; and voices from the right, primarily concerned with free markets and private-property rights," according to Segredy.

For a guide in the process of reform, however, Segredy takes a step back to the origins and evolution of zoning, with the specific case of Akron in mind. When Akron created its zoning code in 1922, the city was one of the most industrialized and polluted cities in the country. 

But, as we all know, many of the early 20th century problems that zoning codes were originally written to address are no longer much of a live issue in most places.  And like all regulations, there was significant scope creep over time, particularly with regards to restrictions that governed the density and type of residential development.  Some of it was done with honorable intentions, as memories of the disease-ridden, crowded and miserable conditions of 19th century industrial slums were still fresh in people’s minds.  And, of course, some of it was done with dishonorable intentions, designed to segregate residential neighborhoods by both race and class.

Despite the need for reform to make zoning code a tool more effective in today's world, and with the consequences of the history of zoning more apparent, Segredy's main purpose is to make a point about how the discourse about zoning, despite its reform intentions, is unhelpful for the process of actually delivering effective reforms. 

Just as with nearly all of what passes for discourse on public policy these days, it devolves into two groups of ideologues shouting at each other across an unbridgeable chasm - which is one of the primary reasons that our society has ceased to be able to implement meaningful reform of just about anything important.

And then there's the passage that many planners will want to read, which attempts to rehabilitate public opinion about the field in light of the shouting and debating. 

There is also a lot of idle chatter about zoning that blames urban planners for all of this.  The people who want to abolish single-family zoning accuse the planners of being mindless reactionaries who are standing in the way of progress, while people like Stanley Kurtz accuse the planners of being leftists who are working in the service of Agenda 21 and ushering in the New World Order.

Let’s get real once again.  Zoning is not primarily, nor is it fundamentally, an urban planning process.  It is a legislative process.  It has the force of law, and it is ultimately enacted by legislators, not urban planners. You might be surprised by how little many planners have to do with land use policy in our cities.

Segredy calls this "real talk" about zoning, and there's a lot more included in the source article--all intended to inform a reality-based, not theoretical, approach to zoning reform. Segredy is clearly ready to get to work. Is your local political leadership?

Thursday, July 30, 2020 in Notes from the Underground

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

7 hours ago - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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.