New zoning ordinances would focus more on how buildings look and fit into their surroundings, and far less on what goes on inside of them.
While residents and visitors may enjoy the pedestrian-friendly charms of Petoskey, Michigan, officials there are searching for better ways to preserve the town's rustic, village-like character. City planners say that the current, antiquated zoning laws guiding Petoskey's growth make their task harder because they favor autos over walkers and discourage redevelopment. Years ago that was not a problem, but now Petoskey is seeing strip malls and other signs of auto-dependency.
Thanks to Keith Schneider
FULL STORY: Worried About Sprawl, Michigan Town Considers "Form-Based" Development Rules

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

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.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won
A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide
Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code
The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.
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