Simply put, zoning, in a planning or land use context, is the classification of the land in a community into districts with different regulations for its utilization. Zoning and other methods of land use control have evolved with the primary objectives of promoting the health, safety, and wellbeing of residents while minimizing the negative impacts of one activity or use upon others. Zoning is effectively a legislative process whereby a community prioritizes values associated with land, development, and associated activities. A zoning system generally includes map or plan elements which define areas where like regulations apply, and a textual, usually relatively locally legislated ordinance, code, or law consisting of definitions and procedures applying to the zoning process.
Social and technological advancements have prompted an evolution in the perception of activities and development patterns that zoning regulations have been intended to address. Many early land use controls were initiated in response to specific problems experienced by cities during periods of accelerated population growth and rapid industrialization. Public health nuisances worsened by extreme population density and industrial pollution were a primary driver for controls on the form of residential development, promotion of public safety and sanitation infrastructure, and on the siting of industrial activities.
Historically, zoning controls fall into three general categories. The first is the regulation of the location of certain activities, such as the operation of a slaughterhouse or a smelting plant. For reasons of aesthetics, health, and safety, these activities might be required to be separated from areas primarily serving as residences. A secon...
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...nding industrial development and activity within its jurisdiction. In an effort to accomplish this, Euclid passed a zoning ordinance that regulated and restricted the potential uses of 68 acres of land owned by Ambler Realty Company within the village. Ambler sued, arguing that the regulation reduced the value of its property and thus amounted to an unconstitutional taking.
The Court held that Euclid had rightfully employed its police powers and found both that efforts intended to promote the maintenance of the character of a community and the regulation of the locations of certain land uses within a community are legitimate government interests. Though the Euclid decision has never been overturned, cases at all levels of the judicial hierarchy have tested and more narrowly defined the relationship between public interests and private rights in land use matters.
The Land Reform Act of 1967 permitted the state of Hawaii to redistribute land by condemning and acquiring private property from landlords (the lessors) in order to sell it to another private owner, in this case, their tenants (the lessees). The Hawaii State Legislature passed the Land Reform Act after discovering that nearly forty-seven percent (47%) of the state was owned by only seventy-two (72) private land owners. That meant that only forty-nine percent of Hawaii was owned by the State and Federal Govermnet.The contested statute gave lessees of single family homes the right to invoke the government's power of eminent domain to purchase the property that they leased, even if the landowner objected. The challengers of the statue (the land owners) claimed that such a condemnation was not a taking for public use because the property, once condemned by the state, was promptly turned over to the lessee (a private ...
Since the Council meeting on March 31, the issue has become both more contentious and complicated. The Council voted on September 1 to rescind their approval of the new zoning. However, the developer submitted their proposed plans for the site a day prior, which under a new state law, allows for the retail zoning to stand. The “time of application” l...
Richard C. Nelson, the author, is a professor in the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning and the Planning Degree program at the University of Arizona. He has made substantial contributions in real estate analysis and urban growth trends. Nelson also created the term ‘megapolitan’ which he predicts the United States will have over twenty by 2040. These megapolitans are the result of the reverse sprawl and creating major economic centers, which will make America globally competitive. Nelson’s background ties in to many of his ideas in the book, with the main points focusing on demographic changes, housing trends, more space for future jobs and the benefits of reshaping metropolitan America. Changing demographics support the notion that more people are choosing an urban lifestyle over sprawl, which means a higher preference of
The face of the American landscape has undergone a period of fantastic change in recent decades. With an expanding population and innumerable opportunities for economic and physical growth, urban centers and sprawling suburbs have pushed farther and farther into outlying areas causing pressures and development on previously untouched, natural lands. New Jersey has become, in many ways, the focus in dealing with issues of sprawl and development within its relatively small space. The most densely populated state in the nation, New Jersey often acts as a predecessor in both having and dealing with issues of environmental concern and/or damage. Within the past ten years, the issue of urban/suburban "sprawl" has become an issue of much concern among professional and private citizens alike. Characterized by unplanned and unchecked growth outward from urban core areas, sprawl becomes such a concern as it has reshaped the face of the American environmental landscape by fragmenting wild habitats, overutilizing existing water resources, and building mile after mile of "McMansion" homes on very large tracts of land. The construction of this suburban landscape does not, however, come without a cost to the surrounding environment. To build homes with large areas of fenced in property, open space and natural areas must be tapped utilized to feed the strong market. While some would say that it is not the market fueling the various associations of homebuilders but instead the reverse reaction, neither this, nor the other is of significant concern when attempting to address the physical impacts that this sprawling "suburban-side" has on natural habitats.
The description shall be a legal description by metes and bounds or by reference to subdivided land unless the land to be added can be otherwise specifically described.
cents” (Morris 23). According to this information, urban sprawl is costing tax payers in areas of
Inclusionary zoning (IZ) is an affordable housing development program, which encourages the production of affordable housing and controls the housing prices. IZ policies in San Francisco, Boston, and Washington D.C support new residential developments to keep a certain percentage of the housing units affordable and serve to low income residents. Density bonuses are allowed to the developer to build more units, and fast-track permitting allows developers to expedite the building process. Although those programs have aided numerous residents, there is the argument followed, IZ program would cause the prices of market-rate housing to rise ultimately reducing rather than increasing affordability. To find out the truth of the IZ program, the research team in Furman Center, New York University addresses these questions.
The third listing for the definition of sprawl in the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is as follows: “to spread or develop irregularly”. Unfortunately, this is the pattern, or lack thereof, with which America’s development is following. Every single day the world population rises, and these new babies have to live somewhere. Due to the fact that the birth rate is larger than that of the death rate in America (http://www.bartleby.com/151/a24.html), new homes and communities must be developed to accommodate all of the incoming people. This fundamental concept is coupled by another very powerful driving force prompting people to live in the suburbs of America, and that is greed. The economy makes available to the country a degree of ownership never before matched in our history, and people are taking advantage of it. This idea drives people to move from the congested, smoky, and frantic cities to the serenity of the countryside, where they have the opportunity to own much more land and live a more peaceful life. For a time this worked very nicely as portrayed in the incredible success of the communities created by William Levitt. Levittown was a dream of William Levitt, which encompassed the idea that all Americans can afford a home in the country. It was a success in the time of its creation, but we are beginning to see the dangers that this type of super growth brings along with it. Urban sprawl is an issue that will require much attention in the future, to prevent the negative effects that are already taking their toll.
Urban development (such as housing and construction) spreading into rural or suburban areas can be described as suburban sprawl. For example, Toronto’s urban development expanding into Brampton. Over the past few years, a lot of suburban sprawl has been happening in the GTA. Suburban sprawl can mean that human needs such as public transit or stores could be reached without having to travel a long distance. However, sprawl can also result in air pollution, climate change, and loss of agricultural land use. These factors especially
However, most of the people whose homes were in this area had given their properties up for just compensation by the city without a struggle; only a small portion went to the courts about losing their land. The main reason behind these people taking legal action was because apparently they held a connection to their land; many had spent much time working on their home to bring it to the condition it was, raising its value not only marketably but sentimentally as well (Linder). Despite the promise of being justly compensated for being relieved of their land - which would have been generous seeing as all the properties in question seemed to be in good condition, because the people who sued the state felt that the labor (or other reasons for attachment) outweighed whatever they would have received for it by the city they tried to keep their
Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial sites where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real, or perceived environmental contamination that can add cost, time, and uncertainty to the redevelopment process. Throughout the country there are an estimated 450,000 brownfields. These vacant properties exist mostly in cities, serving no practical purpose, and act as both eyesores and environmental as well as economic pitfalls. The inner cities, where most brownfields exist, were once the only choice developers had in deciding where to build industry. However, since the birth of environmental laws and regulation, the redevelopment of these properties has become a complicated and often very costly procedure. This procedure causes many businesses and corporations to look outside of the inner cities and urban areas for locations to grow and develop. This trend not only leaves the inner cities vacant and economically useless, but also leads to urban sprawl, a phenomenon that leads to the development of greenfields, or the pristine, undeveloped land outside the confines of massive urban areas.
Downtowns used to be vibrant places filled with businesses, people, and unique architecture. However, this has completely changed. Many downtowns have lost their businesses, people, and uniqueness. This is because of three things, the first one is Euclidean zoning. This separates land based on its use. This affects the variety of buildings and infrastructure in an area. Euclidean zoning assigns a purpose to a plot of land. The next thing that has led to the loss of vibrancy in downtowns is the G.I. bill, which resulted in the creation of new subdivisions throughout the US. Another factor is the Interstate Highway Act of 1956. These three things led to the creation of shopping malls. These shopping malls were built the same in different parts
et al., 2005). Urban reformers began to take action, thereby adopting zoning laws and building
Once you have found a potential site for your business, be sure to get zoning approval before doing anything else. DO NOT buy a property, sign a lease or rental agreement, or in the case of an existing business, make changes to the property’s interior or exterior, or change the use of the property until you have received zoning approval. Generally, there is no fee for this service.
The industrial Revolution, starting in late 18th century, had a significant urbanizing effect. Industrialization is the basic driving force of urbanization and urbanization, cities, are the important land for industrialization. Industrialization and urbanization are just like brothers that grow and develop together and developed each other (Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia, 1997). Industrialization is the initiator of urbanization and urbanization is the inevitable result of industrialization. The inventions of railroad tracks, automobiles, telephones, airplanes and electricity are a part of industrialization and the growth of cities, urbanization, during the late 1800s and early 1900s.