Bad Zoning Codes Cause Sprawl

Connecticut's cities' zoning codes -- many based on MuniCode's bolierplate code -- make sprawl ineveitable.

1 minute read

October 17, 2005, 9:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"...[T]he reality is that many of Connecticut's developers and designers would love to create sociable, dense urban communities with open space set aside in perpetuity, a practice generally known as New Urbanism.

Unfortunately, there are many obstacles -- the biggest, baddest and most entrenched of which are the state's antiquated zoning codes, which make sprawl all but inevitable.

Writing zoning codes from scratch would have been a daunting undertaking for town volunteers at that time, so the codes were purchased lock, stock and barrel from supplier companies eager to make money distributing zoning boiler plate.

One of the largest such is the perfectly respectable company MuniCode, which since 1961 has supplied zoning codes to 23 Connecticut towns and cities. Not bad for a company located in Tallahassee, Fla. You might ask what an outfit in Tallahassee knows about the special character of the New England village of Westbrook? Answer: probably not much. So, over time, Westbrook gradually has taken on the suburban look of MuniCode's 1,600 other client communities across the United States.

...Zoning codes have failed to evolve with planning philosophies, because volunteer boards tend to be so impressed by the authoritative look and sheer weight of their codes that they believe them to have come down from the Mount."

Thanks to The Practice of New Urbanism listserv

Sunday, October 16, 2005 in The Hartford Courant

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

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.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Dense multistory residential buildings in hilly San Francisco, California.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean

Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

4 hours ago - The San Francisco Standard

Blue self-driving Ford Transit van shuttle in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US

A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.

5 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Blue sign with white gas pump symbol with electric plug and "EV"

‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Guts EV Tax Credits

The bill eliminates federal subsidies for electric vehicle buyers and charging stations.

6 hours ago - Engadget

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA