Proposed Zoning Consolidation Scaled Back in Anchorage

A revised, scaled-back version of a zoning reform effort in Anchorage would concentrate the proposed consolidation of residential zoning districts in one part of the city.

2 minute read

August 21, 2023, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Alaska

Russ Heinl / Shutterstock

Anchorage Assemblymembers have scaled back the zoning consolidation proposed by the “Housing Opportunities in the Municipality for Everyone” (HOME) an initiative that previously would have reduced the number of residential zoning district’s in the city to one.

Anchorage Assembly members Meg Zaletel and Daniel Volland have revised the proposed zoning changes into a more “targeted” approach, according to a paywalled article by Alex DeMarban for the Anchorage Daily News.

“The new proposal would still sharply reduce the city’s residential zoning categories, from 15 to five, but it would be based on land-use categories spelled out in the 2040 land-use plan adopted six years ago,” writes DeMarban, citing a document published ahead of an assembly meeting scheduled for August 22.

Instead of combining all residential zoning into one district, as proposed in the earlier version of the HOME initiative, the revised proposal “would only apply to the Anchorage Bowl, not Eagle River and Girdwood,” adds DeMarban.

“The original proposal would have shrunk the city’s residential zones to essentially one category, divided only by areas with city-provided plumbing and areas like those near the Hillside that use wells and septic systems,” adds DeMarban. “It also proposed a 1 1/2-year process to rewrite residential sections of Title 21, the land-use code, a period critics said was far too short.”

More details on how the revised HOME initiative reflects the vision laid out in the city’s 2040 land use plan are included in the source article.

Saturday, August 19, 2023 in Anchorage Daily News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6 - Honolulu Civil Beat

View of wide street in downtown Boise, Idaho with state capitol visible at end of street and blurred traffic going both directions at dusk.

Idaho Data: Unexpected Vehicle Repairs Exacerbate Housing Instability, Eviction Risk

Over 21 percent of clients struggle with transportation barriers.

April 6 - Idaho Capital Sun

Small, brightly lit bedroom with flowery sheets on single bed in supportive housing or nursing home.

A Year-Long Investigation On Permanent Supportive Housing

The New York Times reveals what’s working and what’s not in the cornerstone of Housing First.

April 6 - The New York Times