The name change to "neighborhood residential zoning" is meant to more accurately reflect the city's diverse neighborhoods, but the new legislation does not change permitted uses.
Last week, Seattle's city council voted to change the name of the city's single-family neighborhoods from "single-family zoning" to "neighborhood residential zoning." The council says they made the name change "so that our planning documents reflect the true character of Seattle neighborhoods, diverse housing, small businesses, and many different types of households."
The change reflects "a recommendation laid out in a 2018 report from the Seattle Planning Commission called 'Neighborhoods for All,'" but the legislation makes no changes to land use in these neighborhoods. According to the text of the law, the legislation is explicitly "not intended to have a substantive effect on the uses permitted" but simply to reflect the "vibrant neighborhoods" that already exist. Bill co-sponsor Councilmember Dan Strauss said the bill "does not change the uses, the height, bulk or scale of buildings in these areas."
Advocates of zoning reform are disappointed with the symbolic step. "A name change would not address harmful zoning or bring forth the mixed-zoning plans many housing justice advocates swear by. But [Councilmember and bill sponsor Teresa] Mosqueda’s office said that updating to more accurate language is an important step in grounding future, more meaningful changes to zoning laws in anticipation of the Comprehensive Plan update." The commission's report "calls for more than just the name change: it also recommends that more housing types be allowed within single-family zones" to relieve the housing crunch and provide more opportunities for affordable housing.
FULL STORY: Council Gives Single-Family Zoning a Name Change but Not the Boot
Opinion: Zoning Reform Is a Social Justice Issue
Far from an obscure, wonky local issue, zoning reform has the potential to advance social justice in American cities.
Gainesville Set To Approve Contentious Zoning Reforms
The city commission voted in favor of a controversial zoning reform package that critics from multiple sides say won’t create more affordable housing for those who need it most.
Biden Wants to Incentivize Inclusionary Zoning
Traditionally the purview of local governments, single-family zoning has come under fire as ‘exclusionary.’ Now, the federal government wants to encourage cities to loosen restrictions.
New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition
Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.
Rethinking the Role of Parking in the American City
In cities big and small, the tide is turning against sprawling parking lots, car-centric development, and minimum parking mandates.
Friday Eye Candy: 20 AI-Generated Cityscapes
AI-generated images are creating new landscapes and cityscapes, capable of inspiring awe or fear.
Panel: Minneapolis Zoning Updates Should Reflect Mixed-Use Future
A discussion of post-pandemic changes in work and commuting concluded that the city’s overhaul of its zoning code should be less restrictive with land uses.
People on Bikes Outnumber Drivers in the City of London
The City of London’s efforts to increase biking and reduce driving has finally achieved a long-term goal: a preference for biking over driving.
Planners Look to ‘Activity Centers’ for Sustainable Development
Existing hubs of ‘hyperlocal’ economic activity provide a model for urban density.
Houston-Galveston Area Council
Houston-Galveston Area Council
City of Tulare
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
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.
