Massachusetts' zoning law is outdated, encourages spawl, and discourages good planning. A group of planners and attorneys are rewriting the law.
"The law allows subdivisions to be built without any local approval as long as the home lots are on existing roads, a provision that is unique in the country, members of the Zoning Reform Working Group say. The law also discourages innovative planning techniques, in part through a liberal grandfathering provision that allows builders to skirt any new rules imposed by towns for up to eight years, they say... Changing the zoning law, which was established in the 1920s and has been amended into a complex patchwork since, would be the best way to improve all forms of development in Massachusetts, including affordable housing, members of the reform group say."
Thanks to Bruce Hughes
FULL STORY: Planners seek to revamp "outdated" zoning legislation
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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.
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