top of page
Zoning Image.png

 Latest

draft

Zoning codes are a set of rules that regulate what can and cannot be done on a particular piece of property.  Zoning can be used to encourage the construction of new housing, support local entrepreneurs, attract new businesses, and protect natural resources.

 

As our city continues to grow and evolve it’s important that we ensure that our land use regulations remain current and responsive to the needs of our community. Our current zoning code was adopted in 1975 and, by and large, still reflects the values and trends of that time.

​

The City began working with ZoneCo in 2018 to update the City's Zoning Code in order to put the vision and goals of the City's planning documents into action. 

​

The following are helpful resources for understanding the positive impacts these proposals can have. This list will be updated periodically.

ZONING RESOURCES:

HOUSING​

 

Anderson, R. J. (2023, March 28). Ten Code Reform Priorities for the Housing Crisis [web log]. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2023/03/28/top-10-code-reform-priorities-housing-crisis.

​

Been, V., Ellen, I. G., & O'Regan, K. (2018). (rep.). Supply Skepticism: Housing Supply and Affordability. NYU Furman Center. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://furmancenter.org/files/Supply_Skepticism_-_Final.pdf.

​

Gray, M. N. (2023, March 7). Yimby Zoning Reform sweeps mountain west as housing costs rise. Bloomberg.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-07/yimby-zoning-reform-sweeps-mountain-west-as-housing-costs-rise

​

Horowitz, A. & Canavan, R. (2023, April 17). More Flexible Zoning Helps Contain Rising Rents. Pewtrusts.org. Retrieved May 23, 2023, from https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2023/04/17/more-flexible-zoning-helps-contain-rising-rents.

​

Maye, A., & Moore, K. (2022, July 14). The growing housing supply shortage has created a housing affordability crisis. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.epi.org/blog/the-growing-housing-supply-shortage-has-created-a-housing-affordability-crisis/.

​

Mouzon, S. (2022, October 31). How to create real housing affordability, with dignity. CNU.org. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2022/10/24/how-create-real-housing-affordability-dignity

​

Rewers, R. (2022, May 17). Addressing the Nation's Housing Crisis. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.planning.org/blog/9248613/addressing-the-nations-housing-crisis/.

​

Sisson, P. (2023, January 18). What Is Zoning Reform and Why Do We Need It? Planning Magazine. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.planning.org/planning/2023/winter/what-is-zoning-reform-and-why-do-we-need-it/.

​

Stacy, C. P., Davis, C., Freemark, Y., Lo, L., MacDonald, G., Zheng, V., & Pendall, R. (2023, March 29). Land-use reforms and housing costs. urban.org. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.urban.org/research/publication/land-use-reforms-and-housing-costs

​

SUSTAINABILITY​

 

Loh, T., Tomer, A., Kane, J., & Vey, J. (2022). (rep.). Mappings America's Activity Centers: The Building Blocks of Prosperous, Equitable, and Sustainable Regions. Brookings Institute. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.brookings.edu/research/activity-centers/.

​

Schuetz, J. (2022, March 9). To save the planet, the green new deal needs to improve urban land use. Brookings.edu. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2019/01/15/to-save-the-planet-the-green-new-deal-needs-to-improve-urban-land-use/

​

Tomer, A., Kane, J., Schuetz, J., & George, C. (2023, March 24). We can't beat the Climate Crisis Without Rethinking Land Use. Brookings.edu. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.brookings.edu/research/we-cant-beat-the-climate-crisis-without-rethinking-land-use/

 

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION​

 

Abello, O. P. (2022, November 29). Cities Are Bringing A Racial Equity Lens To Zoning And Planning Processes. nextcity.org. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/cities-racial-equity-zoning-and-planning-louisville-nyc

​

Bahney, A. (2023, March 6). The gulf between black homeowners and white is actually getting bigger, not smaller. Madison365. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://madison365.com/the-gulf-between-black-homeowners-and-white-is-actually-getting-bigger-not-smaller/

​

Flint, A. (2022, December 23). The State of Local Zoning: Reforming a Century-Old Approach to Land Use. Lincolninst.edu. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/articles/2022-12-state-local-zoning-reform

​

Holder, S., & Capps, K. (2019, May 21). To tackle housing inequality, Try Upzoning. Bloomberg.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-21/to-tackle-housing-inequality-try-upzoning

​

Ionescu, D. (2023, March 2). There is Nothing Illiberal About Walkability. Planetizen.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.planetizen.com/news/2023/03/121980-there-nothing-illiberal-about-walkability?utm_source=newswire&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news-03062023&mc_cid=5f81ffe97e&mc_eid=1e257310ac

 

Neighborhoods Matter. Opportunity Insights. (2019, August 5). Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://opportunityinsights.org/neighborhoods/

​

FINANCIAL STABILITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 

Baca, A., McAnaney, P., & Schuetz, J. (2022, March 9). “Gentle” density can save our neighborhoods. Brookings.edu. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.brookings.edu/research/gentle-density-can-save-our-neighborhoods/

​

Brown, B., & Nelson, A. C. (2023, March 19). The Shifting Boomer Bulge: Under-appreciated impacts could make the current housing crisis worse. Placemakers. other. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from http://www.placemakers.com/2023/03/19/the-shifting-boomer-bulge-2/.

​

Loza, A., & Richman, E. (2011). Economic benefits of smart growth and costs of Sprawl. conservationtools.org. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://conservationtools.org/guides/96-economic-benefits-of-smart-growth-and-costs-of-sprawl

​

Sisson, P. (2023, March 9). 3 Zoning Reform Success Stories That Reignited Downtown Development. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.planning.org/planning/2023/winter/3-zoning-reform-success-stories-that-reignited-downtown-development/

​

Steuteville, R. (2022, November 18). Ways to jump-start small-scale urbanism. CNU.org. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2022/11/16/ways-jump-start-small-scale-urbanism

​

ADDITIONAL CASE STUDIES

 

Armus, T. (2023, March 22). Arlington Ends Single-Family-Only Zoning. Washington Post. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/03/22/arlington-missing-middle-vote-zoning/.

​

City of Columbus (2023). Zone In Columbus. Retrieved from the City Of Columbus website: https://zone-in-columbus.hub.arcgis.com/

​

Ionescu, D. (2023, March 8). Washington Could Legalize Multifamily Housing. Planetizen.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.planetizen.com/news/2023/03/122099-washington-could-legalize-multifamily-housing?utm_source=newswire&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news-03092023&mc_cid=af3f0e7fac&mc_eid=1e257310ac

​

Lee, Jeannette (2023, March 17), Anchorage Adopts Model ADU Reforms. Sightline Institute. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.sightline.org/2023/03/17/anchorage-adopts-model-adu-reforms/

​

​

bottom of page