EP 814 Zoning: A Powerful Tool in Shaping Our Communities

 Zoning has been used by local communities to open up possibilities for some and shut them down for others; to beautify some spaces or change their character not for the better and to recognize current realities or live in the past.  Once we recognize the power of zoning, we can harness it to create walkable and vibrant communities, resist the monotonous effects of suburban sprawl, integrate exciting design elements and work toward important goals like more affordable housing units, public transportation and creative housing options surrounding it.  Zoning may seem like an invisible force shaping our communities but, in most communities, much ink has been spilled defining the most common districts: commercial, residential, industrial, open space and mixed districts, even creating ‘special districts’ to encourage, say, entertainment venues in an area.  In her new book “Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World”, legal scholar and architect Sara Bronin reveals the impacts of zoning for good and ill. Many cities have not revisited their zoning codes for years, leaving in place ordinances that maintain racial segregation, prioritize cars over people, and enable great ecological harm.

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