ThreadATL reposted this
Over-bloated minimum lot sizes are a prime way zoning leverages economic exclusion. In America, economic exclusion is de facto racial exclusion. Check out historic lot sizes in Atlanta versus our current suburban-based lot minimums. We're going through a zoning rewrite currently, but reducing minimum lot sizes is a step too far for the amount of courage present in the current administration.
Ever notice the calls for good planning often involve depowering planners?
We’re having the ADU discussion right now, in Huntsville. There’s a lot of support for it, but some trepidation about how best to implement.
I don’t understand your position at all. You are advocating smaller lot sizes? Bloated minimum lot sizes? Too many or too big? You want lots smaller?
This is a call to abolish minimum lot sizes.
There is a lot to unpack in this conversation, a lot of the comments are right. There are few factors that have to get better. One major sector is municipality cost that extend decades for roads, infrastructures such as storm water, sewage, drinking water and first responders; there is a cost associated with this and is heavly scrutinized at the zoning level with developers and municipal departments and politician. Then there is public perception, where as often times NIMBISM occurs or social economic bigetry, it does not matter what your race is, it’s how much money you have. Then it’s the over regulation the climate change activist who have entrenched themselves so deep in environmental agency that the cost to construct homes with such heavy regulationds and over site by federal, state and local governments that home affordability is out of reach. Because of this developers are only willing to work in areas and ways that are profitable. It’s going to be difficult to control and unfortunately it will take a dramatic economic event to put politicians in a position to make changes that will not in danger them in Election Day.
Catherine Hartley, AICP, CNU-a realizes you need more land to absorb water during climate change. Always look ahead. It is that simple. Same applies on coastal areas, literally at sea. Dunes. You will see people fighting for ROW in different ways once the climate crisis gets bad. Easy peasy.
It’s time for our Country to push the envelope to Evolve Housing and Land Planning. We are still working for the most part on outdated antequated ordinances/ platforms that are decades old and in need of Thoughtful, creative change. Almost everything around us is changing! Yet, we still approach housing in most areas the same way it’s been done over the last 25-50 years. We can do Better!
The next step is to tackle minimum unit sizes. The building code covers that at the life/safety level. Why does the government need to determine how much space I need at the zoning level?
Excellent graphic design here.
What is supposed to be accomplished with minimum lot sizes? Economic exclusion? The adopted building codes set minimum dimensions and areas for individual rooms and establish separations between buildings. Those codes are at least based in something resembling science and fire safety. Zoning is a police power allowed for municipalities for the purpose of insuring health, safety, and the public welfare. How do bloated lot sizes serve that purpose? Is the Atlanta City Council in the pocket of Big Lawn Care? Elected officials who express their concern over housing choice and affordability, but will not reform the silly zoning codes are not serious people.