Zoning, Rezoning & Sprawl

Zoning is a critical tool for getting the benefits of growth while minimizing growing pains.  But in far too many communities, zoning is used to benefit specific property owners or special interests at the expense of overall quality of life. 

If you believe that a proposed zoning amendment, rezoning, or other zoning-related action threatens your quality of life then contact CEDS at 1-800-773-4571 or info@ceds.org.  Our advice is available free of charge to citizens seeking to preserve a neighborhood or the environment from flawed zoning decisions. 

In Chapter 35 of our free 280-page book How To Win Land Development Issues we explain how to find the quickest, most effective strategy for resolving your zoning-related concerns.  But if time is short then consider a CEDS Initial Strategy Analysis.  We can also help you to raise the funds needed to hire a good zoning attorney and the other professionals needed to implement the strategy quickly.  Additionally, we have a nationwide network of more than 130 attorneys who specialize in helping citizens with zoning and other land use issues. 

Following is our view of what zoning should be.

Zoning is the process by which the residents of a community decide (through their local elected officials) which uses are suitable for each parcel of land within the community.  When done well, zoning helps to achieve the following goals:

• incompatible uses are not allowed near one another (e.g. industrial zones don't abut residential zoning districts);
• the pace of growth does not cause school overcrowding, traffic congestion, sewer overflows, water shortages, or overwhelm police, fire, ambulance, and other services;
• areas dominated by working farms or sensitive environmental resources are zoned for very low density;
• thru-traffic on residential streets is not increased;
• commercial and industrial zones do not disrupt neighborhoods with excessive noise, light, dust, or odors;
• residential zoning districts are laid out to facilitate mass transit, walking, and bicycling for both existing and new neighborhoods;
• zoning requires retention of sufficient open space to accommodate active-passive recreation needs;
• through zoning new development is directed to compact growth areas where density is kept high to keep property taxes low, preserve rural lands, facilitate mass transit, etc.;
• residential zoning districts  consist of a diversity of housing types with respect to affordability, size, targeted age-range, etc.;
• zoning allows all of the uses a community needs somewhere within the community;

to name just some of the more important goals of zoning.

Good planning is the key to designing a set of zoning regulations (also known as zoning ordinances) and zoning maps which will achieve these goals.  At a minimum, every local jurisdiction should have a comprehensive plan setting forth the goals the community wishes to achieve as the area grows and the objectives essential to achieving these goals.  The plan must be prepared through a process which encourages maximum participation by all community members and provides residents with the background information needed to understand how each alternative will affect their interests.  Zoning regulations, zoning ordinances, and zoning maps provide the means to implement the goals set forth in the comprehensive plan.

CEDS exists solely to help citizens win zoning, land development and environmental issues. Because of this specialization, we can pull together a top-notch team of leading experts, including a good zoning attorney practicing in your area, to quickly analyze your situation and develop the easiest, least expensive strategy for success. Our strategies employ an aggressive approach on multiple fronts: legal, technical, and political. Because of this unique approach our clients win 75% of their cases vs. the much lower success rate typical of more conventional campaign strategies. And our victories come at a fraction of the cost.

Our approach to winning zoning, land use and environmental cases is described in a 280-page book which can be downloaded free by clicking on the following title: How To Win Land Development Issues: A Citizens Guide To Preserving & Enhancing Quality of Life in Developing Areas.

Our Mission: To help citizens win Smart Growth victories.