After roundly rejecting a proposal to legalize granny flats in 2018, the city council is revising it and other zoning reform proposals that could increase the city’s affordable housing supply.
With the city short an estimated 21,000 affordable housing units, Reno leaders are reconsidering permitting accessory dwelling units (ADUs), adopting ‘by-right’ approvals for some housing developments, and upzoning some districts as part of a package of recommendations aimed at increasing the housing supply.
As Ben Margiott reports for Fox Reno, “After a lengthy special meeting, the city council directed staff to move forward with drafting a granny flat ordinance and asked them to come back later this year with more specifics on other policies.” While some council members are skeptical of the proposals, others hope they can help meet growing housing needs.
According to consultant Shane Phillips, who prepared the recommendations, upzoning some residential neighborhoods “could involve allowing up to 30 units per acre on land previously zoned for up to 14 or 21 units per acre. Denser land which currently permits up to 30 units per acre, could be rezoned to allow up to 45 or 60 units.”
FULL STORY: Reno council debates allowing denser housing, revisits controversial effort to legalize granny flats
ADU Demand Grows Across the West Coast
In communities from California to Washington, permit applications for accessory dwelling units outpace the ability of permitting and construction to keep pace.
Arizona Legalizes ADUs and Higher Downtown Density Statewide
Two new laws require cities to permit ‘missing middle housing’ near city centers and ADUs on all single-family lots.
Bill Legalizing ADUs Passes Texas Senate
If passed by the full state legislature, the bill would eliminate local restrictions on ‘mother-in-law’ units.
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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie