HOW ZONING SHAPES COMMUNITIES

THE GOOD, BAD AND HOPEFUL ASPECTS 

OF THE CENTURY-OLD TOOL THAT DETERMINES

EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PLACES WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY

Many states and cities are backing zoning reform that creates more housing options for a more diverse set of renters and buyers. 

Utah has linked housing reform to state infrastructure dollars, prioritizing funds to communities that are creating workforce housing.

“Several cities are creating a pathway to gentle density and more housing by offering pre-approved missing middle and ADU designs,” Jason Jordan, the American Planning Association’s (APA) public affairs director, said. 

“It makes it easier for small-scale and newer developers.

It prevents them from getting bogged down in design and approval process that can kill a project. 

It can encourage more minority developers to build smaller, infill projects, like missing middle housing.”