Thawing the Frozen City: Rethinking Urban Zoning for Dynamic Communities

 In the realm of urban planning, zoning serves as the backbone of how cities are structured and developed. The United States predominantly employs a method known as Euclidean zoning, named after the landmark 1926 Supreme Court case, Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. This system categorizes land into specific types of use, such as residential, commercial, or industrial, and dictates what activities can occur in each zone. Euclidean zoning emerged as a response to the rapid urbanization and industrialization of the early 20th century, intended to protect residential areas from the encroachment of factories and commercial enterprises.

However, this prescriptive approach, which clearly delineates what must occur in each zone, often leads to a lack of flexibility and creativity in urban design. It can result in segregated communities where residential, commercial, and recreational spaces are isolated from one another.

The Mismatch Between Modern Development and the Human Experience

In the United States, contemporary development has strayed from the human experience in several ways. Most developments are designed around the experience of drivers, not accommodating to human beings as children or the elderly. They do not foster the sort of human interactions that contribute to community development. Life is replaced by vacuous, uninspired places where community space isn't owned by the members of the community, and people do not feel a sense of connection to the places they live.

How Urban, Suburban, and Rural Communities Can Change Development Policy

To steer away from this trend and back toward anthro-centric community development, urban, suburban, and rural communities can change development policy in the following ways:

1. Prioritize People Over Cars: Design developments that prioritize pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit. This means creating walkable neighborhoods with sidewalks, bike lanes, and public transportation options. It also means reducing the number of parking spaces and making it more difficult to drive in certain areas.

2. Create Community Spaces: Develop spaces where people can gather and interact. This could include parks, plazas, community centers, and libraries. These spaces should be designed to be welcoming and inclusive to people of all ages and abilities.

3. Promote Mixed-Use Development: Encourage the development of mixed-use developments that combine residential, commercial, and office space. This will help to create more vibrant and walkable communities.

4. Support Local Businesses: Support local businesses that are owned and operated by members of the community. These businesses help to create a sense of place and belonging.

5. Invest in Public Art: Invest in public art that reflects the unique character of the community. Public art can help to create a sense of place and make communities more attractive and inviting.

6. Engage the Community in the Development Process: Engage the community in the development process by holding public meetings and workshops. This will help to ensure that new developments meet the needs of the community.

By making these changes, urban, suburban, and rural communities can create developments that are more human-centric and that foster a sense of community.

Conclusion

Contemporary development in the United States has diverged from the human experience. Most developments are designed around the experience of drivers and are not accommodating to human beings as children or the elderly. They do not foster the sort of human interactions that contribute to community development. Life is replaced by vacuous, uninspired places where community space isn't owned by the members of the community, and people do not feel a sense of connection to the places they live.

To steer away from this trend and back toward anthro-centric community development, urban, suburban, and rural communities can change development policy in the ways outlined above. By making these changes, communities can create developments that are more human-centric and that foster a sense of community.

Recommendations for Urban Communities

• Reduce the number of parking spaces in new developments.
• Increase the density of development in urban areas.
• Invest in public transportation.
• Create more public spaces, such as parks and plazas.

Recommendations for Suburban Communities

• Develop mixed-use developments that combine residential, commercial, and office space.
• Create more walkable neighborhoods with sidewalks and bike lanes.
• Support local businesses.

Recommendations for Rural Communities

• Preserve open space and farmland.
• Develop small-scale, mixed-use developments in rural towns and villages.
• Support local farmers and businesses.

By implementing these recommendations, urban, suburban, and rural communities can create developments that are more human-centric and that foster a sense of community. 

When City Hall and Developers Become Too Cozy: How to Protect the Public Interest

We’ve all seen it: gleaming new developments rising in our cities, promising prosperity and revitalization. But behind the shiny facades, a less glamorous story often unfolds – a story of cozy relationships between urban planning departments and land developers, where the public interest can get lost in the shuffle.

Urban planning departments, under pressure to boost economic activity, often prioritize attracting developers at almost any cost. This can lead to:

• Weakened regulations: Zoning ordinances are bent, environmental reviews are fast-tracked, and density restrictions are relaxed to accommodate developers' desires.
• Tax breaks and subsidies: Generous tax increment financing (TIF) districts and other incentives are offered, often diverting public funds away from essential services.
• Compromised design: Concerns about aesthetics, pedestrian access, green space, and community impact are often sidelined in favor of maximizing developers' profits.

Politicians, eager to tout job creation and increased tax revenue (at least in the short term), often turn a blind eye to these compromises. The result? Developments that may look impressive on the surface but ultimately fail to serve the long-term needs of the community.

So, how do we break this cycle and ensure that new developments contribute to the long-term prosperity and benefit of the city and its citizens?

1. Transparency and Public Input: Open up the planning process. Make development proposals, environmental impact studies, and financial agreements readily accessible to the public. Hold meaningful public hearings where residents can voice their concerns and suggestions. Independent oversight committees can also play a crucial role.

2. Stronger Regulations and Enforcement: Implement robust zoning ordinances, design guidelines, and environmental regulations. These should prioritize:

   • Sustainable development: Encourage green building practices, energy efficiency, and reduced environmental impact.
   • Mixed-use development: Promote walkable neighborhoods with a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.
   • Affordable housing: Require developers to include a certain percentage of affordable units in their projects.
   • Preservation of historic and cultural resources: Protect the unique character of the city.

3. Independent Planning Boards: Empower planning boards with real authority to review and reject development proposals that don't meet community standards. These boards should be composed of diverse members with expertise in urban planning, architecture, environmental science, and community development, not just political appointees beholden to developers or politicians.

4. Long-Term Vision and Master Plans: Develop comprehensive master plans that outline the city's long-term vision for growth and development. These plans should be based on community input and prioritize the public interest, not just short-term economic gains.

5. Focus on Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs): Negotiate CBAs with developers that guarantee specific community benefits in exchange for development approvals. These benefits could include affordable housing, local hiring preferences, job training programs, and funding for community amenities.

6. Rethinking Tax Incentives: Instead of offering blanket tax breaks, tie incentives to specific performance criteria, such as the creation of living-wage jobs, the inclusion of affordable housing, or the achievement of sustainability goals.

Breaking the cycle of collusion requires a fundamental shift in how we approach urban development. By prioritizing transparency, public input, and strong regulations, we can ensure that new developments contribute to the long-term prosperity and well-being of our cities and their citizens. It's about building communities, not just buildings.