The new rules aim to make it easier to build small multifamily housing developments.
Grand Rapids, Michigan city officials unanimously approved a package of zoning reforms aimed at increasing the housing supply, reports Michael Kransz in M Live. The city aims to add more than 14,000 new housing units by 2027 to meet rising demand.
According to Kransz, “The broad set of changes apply to residential neighborhoods and will remove some city approvals needed for developers to create multi-family housing developments with six or less apartments in those neighborhoods. It will also remove some city approvals needed to build smaller, independent residential dwelling units attached or detached to homes.” The new rules also eliminate parking requirements for new housing with less than six units and raises the number of unrelated people that can live in a household. City leaders hope these changes will create more opportunities for smaller, infill development projects.
Grand Rapids planners are developing a Community Master Plan to guide development over the next two decades.
FULL STORY: Grand Rapids approves zoning changes to help address ‘housing crisis’
DC Residents Want Affordability Over ‘Character’
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New Jersey Calls for 85,000 New Housing Units
A state law known as the Mount Laurel Doctrine mandates that each jurisdiction accommodate enough new housing units to meet the local demand for affordable housing.
Court Blocks Arlington County Zoning Reform
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Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
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The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
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