Gainesville is the first city in Florida to eliminate exclusionary zoning.
The Gainesville City Commission voted 4-3 on Monday, October 17 to eliminate single-family zoning, also known as exclusionary zoning, becoming the most recent in a string of cities and states to undo one of the bedrocks of 20th century planning.
Writing for the Gainesville Sun, Javon L. Harris reports that the ordinance will go into effect immediately: "Developers can build duplexes, triplexes and — on rarer occasions — quadplexes, in any neighborhood with no sunset provision under the measure." The ordinance amends the city's comprehensive plan.
Legal and political challenges are likely to follow. Newly elected commissioners, taking office in January, "have pledged to overturn the change," for example, according to Harris. The city commission's vote was preceded by a "flurry of public comments," most speaking in opposition to the change.
Harris adds that Gainesville is the first city in Florida to eliminate single-family zoning.
Previous Planetizen coverage of zoning reform in Gainesville:
- Gainesville Set To Approve Contentious Zoning Reforms (August 2022)
- Gainesville Weighs Zoning Reform Proposal (April 2022)
Read the full story: Gainesville commissioners eliminate single-family zoning citywide after split 4-3 vote
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