Planetizen Newswire
Keep up with essential planning news and commentary, delivered to your inbox every Monday and Thursday.
Missing Middle Housing
In January, the Sacramento City Council took first steps toward ending single-family zoning citywide. The decision has provoked controversy that is influencing the next steps in the process.
Los Angeles Times
Historic zoning decisions have left a lasting legacy of housing inequality. Current leaders have the opportunity to change that.
Greater Greater Washington
Advocates have been calling for the New York State Legislature to legalize accessory dwelling units for years. A new law would take the first step.
New York ADU Legislation
Tacoma is looking to expand on the accessory dwelling unit reforms of the Home in Tacoma project by planning for new residential density along the city's transit routes.
The Urbanist
A real estate group claims the city has been denying and delaying ADU permits in violation of city and state laws.
San Diego Union-Tribune
The Sacramento City Council took steps toward an updated General Plan that includes a variety of innovative planning proposals, including the elimination of single-family zoning by allowing up to four dwelling units on all residential parcels.
Sacramento Bee
A city of about 40,000 residents across the Puget Sound from Seattle has relaxed zoning regulations to entice more homeowners to build accessory dwelling units.
The Urbanist
The Housing Choice initiative, one of the country's most sweeping planning and development reforms to date, was included in a large economic development package approved by the Massachusetts Legislature earlier this week.
Mass Live
Blog post
Compact infill development can create affordable, inclusive and attractive cities, like Montreal, "plus belle ville au monde."
The state of Oregon made planning history in 2019 by adopting House Bill 2001, paving the way for the state to preempt local exclusionary zoning laws. Now, over a year later, the state land use board has decided how to implement that goal.
Sightline Institute
The Olympia, Washington City Council adopted a new Housing Options Code Amendments ordinance, effectively eliminating single-family zoning in the city.
The Olympian
Montgomery County, Maryland wants to put its zoning where its transit is—it's just the latest in a string of transit-oriented land use reforms for the famously suburban county.
Bethesda Magazine
To keep up with affordable housing demand, Snohomish County needs to add 200,000 units by 2050. Planned light rail stations could be the ticket.
The Urbanist
Cities looking to provide incentive for the construction of accessory dwelling units are increasingly released "permit ready plans" to help the cause.
City of Stockton
Looking for change in the housing supply? "Don't stop at the zoning code and think you're done. There's so much work left to do."
Strong Towns
As one of the first city's to comprehensively allow for residential density, Minneapolis was probably hoping for more than what it's achieved so far.
City Pages
Missing Middle Housing, the kinds of additional density that can be added with limited construction on a footprint the size of traditional single-family homes, is gaining momentum in the D.C. region.
Greater Greater Washington
As reported earlier this month, the Massachusetts Legislature is poised to approve historic statewide land use reforms that would preempt local control of residential development. Here's a detailed account of how the state arrived at this moment.
Shelterforce Magazine
Feature
Dan Parolek, inventor of the term Missing Middle Housing, has written a new book on the subject, available now from Island Press. The following excerpts offer insight into overcoming planning and regulatory barriers to deliver the desired housing.
SB 1120 is the latest law proposed in the California Legislature to preempt restrictive local zoning.
Terner Center for Housing Innovation