Matthew Lonnerstater, AICP’s Post

Understanding the Impact of Zoning and Development Trends: Wynwood’s Tallest Proposed Tower In Wynwood, Miami, Bazbaz Development's proposed 48-story apartment tower under the Live Local Act is set to redefine the neighborhood's skyline. This development leverages key zoning trends and policies, presenting both challenges and opportunities for developers and the city alike. Key Points Height and Density Advantages: Current Zoning: Wynwood's typical height restriction is 12 stories. Live Local Act: Allows up to the highest density and tallest height within a one-mile radius if 40% of units are affordable. Bazbaz Proposal: 48-story tower, significantly taller than the 12-story maximum, utilizing the Live Local Act. Economic Benefits: For the City: Increased housing options, including affordable units. Stimulation of local businesses and economic vibrancy. For Developers: Maximized use of land. Potential for higher returns on investment due to increased rentable units. Project Details: Location: 1.5-acre site along North Miami Avenue and Northwest Miami Court. Specifications: 544 units, 755,700 square feet, 321 on-site parking spaces, 8 off-site spaces. Previous Plan: Included an 8-story and a 12-story building with 339 apartments. Broader Implications: Regional Trends: Similar high-density, affordable housing projects proposed in Fort Lauderdale, Miami-Dade County, and Bal Harbour. Legislation Impact: The Live Local Act is fostering significant residential developments across South Florida. Calls to Action Developers and Investors: Maximize Opportunities: Stay informed about zoning laws and trends to leverage new development possibilities. Partner with Experts: Contact Pink Development for insights on zoning trends and how to maximize your project’s potential. City Planners and Policymakers: Support Legislation: Encourage policies like the Live Local Act to promote inclusive, economically vibrant communities. Collaborate with Developers: Work with development partners to ensure projects meet community needs and zoning requirements. Partner with Pink Development At Pink Development, we specialize in guiding developers through complex zoning laws and trends to unlock new opportunities. Whether you're looking to understand the impact of the Live Local Act or need assistance with a development project, we’re here to help. Reach out to Pink Development today for expert advice and partnership in your next development project. Together, we can shape the future of urban living.

New Columbus zoning code would allow more housing, remove parking requirements A new zoning code that could be adopted by Columbus City Council would allow for the addition of 88,000 new units to key city corridors – more than 14 times what current zoning would allow. The proposed zoning overhaul impacts about 12,300 parcels, about 950 of which are single-family homes. The legislation and maps will be introduced at Columbus City Council on Monday, kicking off a 60-day public review period. Monday night the council will consider legislation that gets the public review period rolling, but a vote on the code itself won't come until the summer. Columbus unveiled maps of the key corridors that this zoning code rewrite would address in 2023. The city has been working on this project since 2021, when it engaged consultants to assess the current zoning code. Since then, the city has held public hearings, presented to area commissions, sent mail to property owners of affected parcels and released an online survey. If Columbus City Council approves the legislation to start the public comment and review process on Monday, there will be a "war room" at 141 N. Front St., staffed by a city planner six days a week, that people can visit to get information on the changes. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said the updated code reflects public policy priorities, such as increased density to create affordability and creating mixed-income neighborhoods. The updated code would reduce the need for property owners to request many variances from council. "The code has kind of been governed by variance for the last 40 years," Ginther said. "And variance by definition is exception, so it undermines I think the public's trust and competence, when all they see are exceptions, particularly if those exceptions are being granted to people who are well-off or well-protected. The code doesn't reflect Columbus' reality, and it certainly doesn't reflect our future." #commercialrealestate #realestate #cre #realtor #realestateagent #realestateinvesting #property #commercial #commercialproperty #realestateinvestor #business #investment #propertymanagement #investmentproperty #residentialrealestate #forsale #retail #entrepreneur #construction #officespace #realestatebroker #broker #multifamily #office #architecture #commercialrealestatebroker #investing #luxuryrealestate #residential #realestatelife #columbus

Boston's Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) are formulating a plan to simplify the city's zoning code by shifting from complex neighborhood-specific standards to a more streamlined "form-based" standard. This change aims to facilitate denser housing and mixed-use development, particularly around transit areas, without requiring special approvals for each project. The plan calls for the introduction of a "squares and streets" approach. This strategy involves offering neighborhoods a range of design options for main streets and squares, aiding new construction while maintaining local character. The new zoning approach should expedite project approvals and reduce development costs. Initially, five building types will be available in the zoning 'menu', with a potential sixth for taller, denser buildings in the future. Public comments are being accepted until January 28, with further discussions planned later in the year. #bpda #bostondevelopment #bostonzoning #zoningreform #zoining https://lnkd.in/eBBGZrRg

Check out the zoning news in this week’s Upzone Update. https://buff.ly/4aO0Mb5 This update focuses on how an urban design team is rethinking Watertown Square. Despite having amenities like restaurants, a public green, bike paths, and a dock on the Charles River that attracts folks with fishing poles, Watertown Square doesn’t feel like a place to hang out, according to Jeff Speck, the author of “Walkable City.” Speck is part of the design team. And Watertown is covered by the state’s MBTA Communities law, so plans include zoning for more apartments. This Upzone Update also shares zoning articles and updates as well as news about the latest MBTA Communities votes, including Lincoln and Westborough, which have both passed MBTA zoning plans. Winchester’s Planning Board has issued a zoning plan to come into compliance with MBTA Communities zoning. Over time these actions should help address the state’s affordable housing shortage.

3 takeaways from Columbus' long-awaited zoning coded changes: 1. Columbus is rezoning 12,000 parcels along transportation corridors to allow dense development (up to 16 stories) with no parking requirements. Parking in these zones will be set by the market, not by the city. 2. "The region needs to add 200,000 housing units by 2030" which seems like a LOT of units in NOT a lot of time. 3. My personal thought: There's going to be a lot of learning and new risk taking. Columbus as a whole doesn't have much experience building these tall, dense buildings nor does it understand how people will interact with current or future mass transit proposals. Seems like it could be a slow chicken or egg first dilemma (density or transit first dilemma) with a quickly approaching, massive housing need. Let me know your thoughts and if you liked this, please follow along! #realestate #commercialrealestate #urbanplanning https://lnkd.in/ecCyR4gs

How to Get By-Right Zoning Right by Karen Parolek. Well-intended zoning-reform efforts often miss the mark, but getting it right quickly is important to meet the housing delivery numbers we desperately need, especially with federal funding coming to help support these #zoningreform efforts! Read this and let me know what else cities should consider in getting by-right zoning right! Sara C. Bronin Toccarra Nicole Thomas, AICP, MBA #rethinkzoning

Zoning overlays are the antithesis of urban planning. They provide divergent visions for the future of a city & ensure that neighborhoods never feel cohesive. Overlays should be avoided. Instead, cities should just provide one vision for their future with one zoning designation for each property.

LA's wonderful urban planning Recently, the Planning Commission, as we know, turned down any prospects of building 'the missing middle' housing in single family neighborhoods, continuing the history of segregation in Los Angeles. No loosening of this land extensive, car dependent land use where walking is a lost cause, and big malls with chain stores are our service sector. Even duplexes are too much for these sacrosanct neighborhoods. At the same time, we are building increasing numbers of big rental apartment buildings along big transportation corridors, shoving people into apartments that are owned by large scale developers. No chance that small scale mom and pop commerce can afford the rent in the token ground floor spaces that remain empty. In my neighborhood, Palms, new buildings host wide sidewalks and new trees. . . planted right below the power lines. (Ahem). The glassy front windows display the reassuring Prop 65 warning that entering the building can expose 'you to chemicals know to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm, including formaldehyde'. And I thought we had a health and safety code that made buildings safe. I guess I was wrong. Rent me, luxury apt you can't afford, and be exposed to toxic chemicals, along a speed way boulevard. Better than intruding into single family zones, no doubt about it.

Bring on the development! Mayor Andrew J. Ginther new zoning plan would create "88,000 new housing units on the less than 4% of city parcels involved — about 15 times the amount of new units absent the change." Part of the 280-page plan also includes less red tape for developers, reducing their need to go before area commissioners to "negotiate projects in return for variances and zoning changes, and hopefully speed the development of in-demand housing. The affected parcels are now governed by some 40 various zoning distinctions, each with different requirements. Under the proposal, there will be just six zoning categories, allowing a much broader range of uses in each." 🤯 Of course, this all still has to be approved by the city council. What do you think? Will it get approved? #columbus #industrialrealestate

One of the most important considerations for developers and property owners are Toronto's Zoning Bylaws. Recent decisions from the City of Toronto’s Committee of Adjustment, like the refusal to convert a home at 91 Barton Avenue into a small apartment, underscore the importance of understanding zoning bylaws and municipal regulations. For property owners, developers, and residents alike, grasping these regulations is crucial for informed decisions and successful projects. Here's why this matters: Toronto's zoning bylaws are critical for managing urban development, specifying what can be built, where it can be built, and how it can be utilized. They regulate: - The types of permissible buildings in different zones (residential, commercial, mixed-use). - Detailed building specifications, including height, floor area ratio, and setbacks from property lines. - Usage constraints, affecting whether buildings can be single-family homes, duplexes, or commercial enterprises. The Committee of Adjustment (COA) plays a pivotal role in this process, handling requests for minor variances from zoning bylaws. The COA evaluates applications based on: - Impact on the community and neighboring properties. - Adherence to the general intent and purpose of zoning bylaws. - Proximity to existing buildings and potential effects on privacy, light, and air access. Toronto has recently updated regulations concerning multiplex developments, aiming to balance growth with community integrity. New rules may include: - Stricter size regulations to prevent new constructions from overshadowing existing homes. - Density controls to maintain balanced community growth. - Potential Requirements for amenities like parking, green spaces, and other community benefits. For property owners and developers, these changes mean that understanding and complying with updated standards is more important than ever. Securing variances is feasible but challenging, requiring a clear demonstration that proposals align with the spirit of the bylaws while minimizing negative impacts. Exemptions are possible for developments already underway before new bylaws were enacted, but such cases are rare. When a COA decision is unfavorable, property owners can appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). Successful appeals must provide strong evidence and compelling reasons why the COA's decision was flawed. Key Takeaways for Property Owners and Developers: - Staying informed about zoning bylaws and COA processes is crucial to avoid delays and additional costs. - Consulting legal professionals ensures clarity on your rights, obligations, and the best strategies for obtaining variances or appealing decisions. Toronto's evolving landscape demands a thorough understanding of zoning bylaws and municipal decisions. Whether you're planning a new project or navigating existing regulations, being well-prepared is key to achieving your vision while complying with regulatory requirements.