Zoning Reform

Connecticut

Connecticut Is Considering Statewide Zoning Reform. This Map May Be Why

Desegregate CT's Zoning Atlas is a first-in-the-nation map showing how all 2,620 zoning districts and two subdivision districts in Connecticut treat housing—a massive undertaking that required a team to read 32,378 pages of zoning regulations.

March 23, 2021 - Next City

Duplex

Tacoma Plan Would Eliminate Single-Family Zoning in Favor of 'Missing Middle' Housing

If implemented, Home in Tacoma would create new housing categories to encourage more multi-family buildings.

March 21, 2021 - MyNorthwest

Peninsula

Opinion: California Should Pass Aggressive Housing Reform

While some lawmakers oppose recent efforts to reform housing policies, others argue the state's affordability crisis calls for bold action.

March 19, 2021 - OC Register

Oakland California Road

Oakland Wants to Make Space for Fourplexes

The city of Oakland in the East Bay Area is a hotbed of planning and development issues, most notably gentrification and the displacement of communities of color. Now the city is considering a drastic change to its zoning code.

March 18, 2021 - Oaklandside

Buckhead, Atlanta

Debating Atlanta's 'City Design Housing' Reform Movement

One of the most ambitious zoning reform efforts in the country is still in early stages, and the public has taken notice.

March 18, 2021 - Buckhead Reporter

Connecticut Capitol Building

Next Up for Statewide Zoning Reform: Connecticut

A proposed package of reforms working through the Connecticut Legislature would loosen zoning codes in a state traditionally committed to single-family zoning.

March 17, 2021 - Diana Ionescu

African American

Local Solutions for Housing Affordability

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy recently published a report to identify local government actions to ensure stable and affordable places to live for everyone.

March 11, 2021 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

New York City Grocery Store

New Zoning Incentives for Grocery Store Developments Proposed in New York City

Transit accessibility incentives are also included in a package of zoning reforms proposed this week that would provide incentives for grocery store developments in a wider swath of New York City.

March 11, 2021 - Commercial Observer

Grizzly Point Berkeley

Upzoning Catches on in California

Eliminating single-family zoning and other exclusionary ordinances could have major impacts on housing in some of the country's most unaffordable cities.

March 8, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Berkeley Hills Bay Area

100 Percent Affordable Overlay: Next Up for Berkeley's Reform Movement

After moving forward with parking and zoning reforms, the Berkeley City Council is also considering a new Affordable Housing Overlay on a model previously adopted in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

March 5, 2021 - Beyond Chron

Highway 101 California

Zoning Reform Skepticism

Ending single-family zoning, as more cities around the United States have begun to do, is too extreme a response to contemporary planning challenges, according to a recent opinion piece published by the East Bay Times.

March 4, 2021 - East Bay Times

UC Berkeley and North Berkeley

History (Un)made: Berkeley City Council Votes to Eliminate Single-Family Zoning

The city that invented single-family zoning in 1916, for discriminatory purposes, will completely remove that exclusionary legacy from its zoning code.

February 24, 2021 - San Francisco Chronicle

Everett, WA - houses

Higher Lot Coverage to Boost Density

A proposal in Snohomish County, Washington could raise the lot coverage limits in medium density residential zones to allow for more usable square footage.

February 23, 2021 - The Urbanist

Boston

Boston to Require Fair Housing Review for New Developments

The Boston Zoning Code is one of the first in the nation to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.

February 23, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Joseph Leopold Eichler

Context for Sacramento's Decision to End Single-Family Zoning

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.

February 11, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Multi-Family Housing

The Connecticut Zoning Atlas Illustrates a Proclivity for Single-Family Zoning

A new online interactive mapping tool illustrates just how much developable land is devoted to one for of residential housing in the state of Connecticut.

January 29, 2021 - Hartford Courant

Granny Flat

Proposed Law Would Legalize Accessory Dwelling Units in New York State

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.

January 28, 2021 - New York ADU Legislation

East Bay Area

Berkeley to Remove Parking Requirements for Residential Properties

Berkeley is the second city in Northern California to approve landmark zoning reforms so far in 2021.

January 27, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

Mount Rainier

Upping Tacoma's Missing Middle Housing Game

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.

January 26, 2021 - The Urbanist

Manhattan, New York City, New York

Kicking Commercial-to-Residential Conversions Into High Gear

A plan included in New York Gov. Andre Cuomo's draft 2022 budget will make it easier to do adaptive reuse for new housing in New York City.

January 22, 2021 - The Real Deal

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.

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An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.