To boost the state's housing supply, some New York lawmakers want to eliminate local control over single-family zoning.

Single-family zoning once again takes center stage as New York State lawmakers dispute the merits of proposed bills that would preempt local zoning codes, allowing homeowners to rent out secondary units such as basements, top floors, and other accessory dwelling unit (ADU) types. As David Brand reports, housing advocates argue that single-family zoning—and the state laws that allow local jurisdictions to enforce it—are suppressing housing construction and enabling New York's affordable housing shortage.
A 2019 report from the Department of City Planning found that New York City added 770,000 new jobs between 2001 and 2018, but only 407,000 new units of housing, creating steep competition for minimal middle-income and low-income housing. A year later, a report by the Citizens Budget Commission found that housing production rates in suburban Westchester, Rockland and Nassau Counties are among the lowest in the country, in large part due to exclusionary zoning.
Consequently, over 40 percent of downstate New York residents spend more than a third of their income on rent, while many live in unpermitted ADUs that could pose safety risks, such as the basement apartments that flooded during Hurricane Ida. Proponents of the bills argue that legalizing ADU rental would increase available housing units and help homeowners bring existing units up to code to protect tenants.
FULL STORY: Hochul, Lawmakers Look to Override NY’s Exclusionary Zoning Amid Housing Crunch

The End of Single-Family Zoning in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is the latest jurisdiction in the country to effectively end single-family zoning.

‘Train Daddy’ Andy Byford to Oversee Amtrak’s High-Speed Rail Efforts
Byford, who formerly ran NYC Transit and Transport for London, could bring renewed vigor to the agency’s plans to expand regional rail in the United States.

Seattle Bus Lane Cameras Capture Over 100,000 Violations
An automated traffic enforcement pilot program caught drivers illegally using transit lanes more than 110,000 times in less than a year.

Immigration Grows, Population Drops in Many U.S. Counties
International immigration to the country’s most populous areas tripled even as major metropolitan areas continued to lose population.

$616 Million in Development Incentives Approved for District Detroit
The “Transformational Brownfield” incentives approved by the Detroit City Council for the $1.5 billion District Detroit still require approval by the state.

Affordable Housing Development Rejected for Lack of Third Staircase in Connecticut
The New Canaan Planning Commission rejected a development proposal, including 31 below-market-rate apartments, for lack of a third staircase, among other reasons, at a time when advocates are pushing to relax two-staircase requirements.
Houston-Galveston Area Council
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Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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