Learn today, plan for tomorrow.
Sign up for news and offers from Planetizen Courses, the online learning platform for planners.
Zoning
Fans of Houston probably won't want to watch this video that calls the Space City a "jumbled up garbage town."
Half as Interesting
Zoning changes have been a popular way to increase density and affordable housing, but more diversified policies could fill in the gaps where zoning fails.
The Urbanist
Few cities are accomplishing such a swift and sweeping overhaul of its land use regulations as Everett, Washington, which just wrapped up its second major planning initiative in as many years on its way to launching a third.
The Urbanist
Blog post
The answer depends on how the question is phrased.
Another corruption scandal involving a Los Angeles city councilmember highlights the urgent need for major planning changes in the city.
Los Angeles Times
A residential skyscraper proposed for Manhattan's Upper West Side included a mechanical void that predated new rules in the city prohibiting the height-enhancing building practice. A judge still rejected the project as planned.
Gothamist
Since late 2019, developers who deliver affordable housing units in Austin have received bonuses in height, density, parking, and other regulatory metrics, leading to a large number of new affordable housing units in the pipeline.
Austin Monitor
The subdivision process imposes rules that result in a lack flexibility, convoluted urban design, and diced up landscapes.
The Urbanist
Zoning in the U.S. was originally intended to keep noxious uses out of residential areas. Around Houston, which famously lacks a traditional zoning system, polluting uses are still granted broad permission to operate in residential areas.
One Breath Partnership
Blog post
Equity is a fine value—but on contentious land use issues, equity can be used to support either side of the argument.
Improved air quality can help achieve equitable economic growth, according to Chicago's newly announced Air Quality Agenda.
Smart Cities Dive
Focusing on zoning in hot-market urban centers misses economic realities—and major opportunities.
Shelterforce Magazine
An opinion piece calls out suburban communities for perpetuating structural inequality and housing discrimination. Recently converted social justice advocates should focus their zeal on zoning reform, according to the argument that follows.
Louisville Courier Journal
Legislation to stop construction of McMansions is being undermined by a zoning loophole.
Curbed Los Angeles
Vince Bertoni addresses his city’s efforts to incentivize affordable housing and noted the responsibility shared at the state, regional, and local level for policy & regulatory change to incent provision of affordable housing.
The Planning Report
It’s not "luxury" factors that make housing in Washington, D.C., extremely expensive.
WAMU
The potential of form-based codes to re-legalize the historic fabric of Cleveland is explained for the nightly news audience.
News 5 Cleveland
SB 50 was often viewed as an attack on wealthy, single-family homeowners, but housing justice advocates also had issues with the legislation.
Curbed
Feature
Lee D. Einsweiler, principal and co-founder of Code Studio, offers practiced insight on the relationship between planning and implementation, as well as guidance for a fulfilling career navigating the two.
Blog post
Some urbanism commentators suggest that gentrification is the result of a "rent gap" between actual and potential rent. How should this theory affect zoning policy?
