A suite of zoning changes that would increase building heights and density along the Passaic River in Newark, New Jersey, provoked a chaotic council hearing that devolved into shouting and the removal of residents from the council chambers.
Karen Yi reports from Newark, New Jersey, where "[c]haos erupted at the Newark City Council meeting Wednesday night as residents' fury over housing opportunities escalated into heated exchanges between the public and city employees."
"Throughout the night, residents vented their frustrations with the lack of low-income housing in the city and decried plans to allow buildings near the city's riverfront to tower as high as 40 stories and others in the Ironbound section to reach 12 stories," according to Yi.
At the core of the controversy are two proposed land use regulation changes. One would create a high density residential and commercial zone, thus increasing height limits, in the Ironbound District. The second would "amend the redevelopment plan for the riverfront and allow buildings to increase their maximum heights from 10 to 25 stories in one area and from 30 to 40 stories in another," according to Yi.
Yi reports that the city has deferred the Ironbound District zoning changes, and will consider the amendments to the "Newark's River: Public Access and Redevelopment Plan" for final adoption at its October 4 hearing.
As for the chaos that erupted during the meeting, Yi posted a video of several residents being escorted from the meeting while trading heated exchanges with city employees.
FULL STORY: WATCH: Anger, chaos erupt at Newark council meeting over housing
Upzoning Plan Faces Opposition in Prince George's County
A rezoning plan in Prince George's County, Maryland is receiving strong criticism from residents who worry redevelopment without tenant protections will lead to displacement.
How Cities Are Resisting State Efforts To Increase Density
Cities are attempting to wrest back local control over land use and zoning via some ingenious—and sometimes disingenuous—strategies.
City Council Approves South Madison Housing Plan
A proposal to redevelop an area of South Madison with higher density and more housing options has drawn criticism from local residents who wanted to see more single-family housing included in the plan.
In Most U.S. Cities, Archaic Laws Limit Roommate Living
Critics argue laws preventing unrelated adults from living in the same home fail to understand the modern American household.
Ten Signs of a Resurgent Downtown
In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe continues his exploration of a holistic and practical approach to post-pandemic urban center recovery, anchored in local context and community-driven initiatives that promote livability, safety, and sustainability.
Off-Peak is the New On-Peak
Public transit systems in major U.S. cities are starting to focus on non-rush hour travelers as pre-pandemic commuting patterns shift and transportation needs change.
The New Colorado River Deal: An Explainer
According to one analyst, the agreement approved by the states doesn’t go nearly far enough to protect the river in the long term.
Research Indicates the Large Potential Benefits of Parking Cash-Out Laws
‘Free’ employee increases driving. Parking cash-out laws reward commuters who use climate-friendly modes, which increases fairness and reduces traffic problems.
Through the Eyes of a Journalist: Megan Kimble Reflects on Covering Food Systems, Zoning Changes, and Highway Projects in the Southwest
Kimble’s interest in topics related to urban planning spawned from research and writing about food systems in the borderlands of Arizona. She then moved to Austin in the midst of the city’s update of its Land Development Code.
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
Code Studio
TAG Associates, Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Knox County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
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.
