A Playbook for Achieving Meaningful Development Regulation Reform

A new book, Reinventing Development Regulation, by urban designer Jonathan Barnett and real-estate lawyer Brian W. Blaesser, makes the case for development regulation reform—a cause that has obvious and even desperate need in many communities around the United States, but still lacks the political will for widespread adoption.

The authors make the case that development regulation reform can "build sustainability and resilience, increase affordability, and improve quality of life," according to a post on the Lincoln Institute of land Policy's blog (the Lincoln Institute published the book). The authors also have ideas about how to make the politics of property ownership can be managed to deliver meaningful reform. "Their recommendations include integrating development with natural ecosystems and using regulations to manage climate change locally," according to the post. Here's a list of suggested strategies for development reform included in the book and listed in more detail in the source post:

• Relate development to the natural environment.
• Manage climate change locally. 
• Encourage walking by mixing land uses and housing types.
• Preserve historic landmarks and districts. 
• Create more affordable housing and promote environmental justice. 
• Establish design principles and standards for public spaces and buildings.
• Implement regulations while safeguarding private property interests.