Rezoning For An Aging Suburban Population

The first issue of a new journal on aging features a discussion on planning and rezoning of a suburb in response to the desires of an aging suburban population for a walkable community with mixed use and better transit services.

1 minute read

June 1, 2007, 1:00 PM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


The first issue of a new journal on "The Dynamics of Aging and Our Communities, features an article by Marry Brizzel, Supervisor of the Town of Colonie, New York, about how the town is changing their planning and zoning to accomodate and plan for the town's aging population.

"As of the last census, one in four residents in the town of Colonie is over the age of 55, and that percentage is only going to grow in the coming years... The ultimate goal of the mixed use zoning and design standards is to transition our commercial corridors from auto-oriented strip malls to a more village like development, where people can walk from the pharmacy to the coffee shop."

The issue also features an interesting article on accessory uses, titled "Accessory Dwelling Units Can Aid in Intergenerational Housing Crisis."

[Editor's note: This article on rezoning begins on page 16 of the PDF document. You must scroll through the PDF until you reach page 16 in order to read the article. The article on accessory uses begins on page 13 of the PDF document.]

Thanks to Paul Bray

Sunday, May 27, 2007 in CCQ Capital Commons Quarterly: The Dynamics of Aging and Our Communities

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

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.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

Rendering of white three-story single-stair building in Austin, Texas with staircase in the middle.

Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway

Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.

30 minutes ago - Building Design & Construction

MARTA bus with Atlanta skyline in background

Atlanta Bus System Redesign Will Nearly Triple Access

MARTA's Next Gen Bus Network will retool over 100 bus routes, expand frequent service.

1 hour ago - Mass Transit

Tall modern condo buildings on both sides of CN Tower rising in middle.

Toronto Condo Sales Drop 75%

In two of Canada’s most expensive cities, more condos were built than ever — and sales are plummeting.

2 hours ago - Financial Post