Zoning reform is a political campaign. Coder Susan Henderson talks about audience dynamics, with a special focus on how to communicate with property owners and the developer community.
Henderson has led scores of form-based zoning reform efforts across the continent and pulls from those experiences to talk more about communication dynamics:
"There are two audiences that have special communications needs: property owners and the developer community. These groups are frequently in conflict, and have impressive political power. Adoption of a new zoning code requires both groups to recognize their own success in the context of your efforts."
"Making this happen requires you to be a quick study of their needs and goals. Zoning reform requires clear and compelling messaging, communication across strategically chosen media, and translation of technical language into something accessible to the community at large. The explanatory documents most closely tied to the ordinance are zoning equivalency tables, an executive summary, and entitlement analyses."
Thanks to Hazel Borys
FULL STORY: Zoning Reform: Drilling down on key audiences
Code Hackathon: What Can Go Wrong With Form-Based Codes?
Top problems with form-based codes, and how to fix them.
A New Path to Code Reform
The Users’ Guide to Code Reform leads planners through the code reform process, providing tools for governments lacking the capacity to develop a full form-based code. Susan Henderson and Matt Lambert hit the high points.
Preserving the Rural Landscape with Agrarian Urbanism
We don't usually think zoning when considering farmland preservation, but Hazel Borys shares are a few thoughts that may help.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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?
LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism
After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.
Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras
The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.
Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum
Voters approved a corporate tax to fund the city’s housing authority despite an opposition campaign funded by Amazon and Microsoft.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service