The Secretive Habits Of One City's Zoning Board

Voting sessions for the New Haven Board of Zoning Appeals are held at irregular times with little public notice, breeding accusations of an intentionally closed process.

1 minute read

January 3, 2007, 10:00 AM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"Even though it attracts far more public interest than most city boards, the BZA is apparently the only one that regularly waits to vote until most of the public has little chance of knowing when or where that's going to happen."

"Just two weeks beforehand, fuming neighbors had filled the aisles of the Hall of Records auditorium railing against plans for a new Dunkin' Donuts and pleading their case for liquor licenses at the monthly BZA meeting. After taking the mic and answering questions from the board, interested parties headed home. They knew the vote wouldn't be that night. It would be 'sometime in the next two weeks or so.' "

Tuesday, January 2, 2007 in New Haven Independent

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

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

Aerial view of Broadway Street of Philipsburg, Montana, Philipsburg is a town in and the county seat of Granite County, Montana, United States.

Rural Population Grew Again in 2024

Americans continued to move to smaller towns and cities, resulting in a fourth straight year of growth in rural areas.

15 minutes ago - The Daily Yonder

Low view of bike lane on New York City street with bike share station next to curb.

Safe Streets Grants: What to Know

This year’s round of Safe Streets for All grant criteria come with some changes.

1 hour ago - Transportation for America

White on-demand microtransit transit vehicle in Missouri.

Rural Missouri Transit Service Could Lose State Funding

OATS Transit offers low-cost rides to primarily elderly rural residents with little or no access to other transportation options.

2 hours ago - The Daily Yonder