ProGov21 Policy Library

Santa Clara Ordinance Regulating the Construction of Big-Box Stores

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2003

Level City or Town

State(s) California

Source Santa Clara City Council

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development, Public Spaces

This ordinance prohibits the construction of large-scale retail stores, or superstores, within Santa Clara. Any entity who wished to operate a large-scale retail store shall apply for and receive a Use Permit. Permit applicants must prepare an environmental impact report and economic...

COG Board Explores Opportunities for Regional Infrastructure Investments

Type Article

Year 2023

Level City or Town, County

State(s) District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia

Source Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice, Finance & Procurement, Transportation & Mobility

This article outlines how the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments is collaborating to optimize federal and regional funding for transportation improvements. It highlights the Union Station redevelopment project and how it will expand commuter rail service while meeting...

Green Roofing

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2020

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Sustainable Development Code

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Environment & Natural Resources, Public Spaces

Cities can use their zoning codes to mandate sustainable development practices like green roofing, which promotes heat absorption, increases stormwater filtration, and provides recreational opportunities. This policy brief outlines how municipalities have leveraged incentives like...

New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2019

Level City or Town

State(s) Louisiana

Source City of New Orleans

Policy Areas Community Development, Housing, Public Safety

This ordinance outlines use and design standards for both rental and owner-occupied affordable housing. It requires that at least 10% of units in new developments within eligible zones are made affordable and ensures that these units will incorporate the same design features and have...

PACE Guide: Working with Community Leaders

Type Fact Sheet or Infographic

Year 2016

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source PACENation

Policy Areas Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development, Public Spaces, Economic Justice, Civil Rights

Community leaders care most about an issue when their own constituents are involved. Having local property owners voice an interest in PACE is a great way to get the attention of a government board. Form partnerships with stakeholders in the community through chambers of commerce...

Regulatory Barriers to Home Construction and Rehab

Type -

Year 2021

Level -

State(s) All States

Source The Project For Lean Urbanism

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Democracy & Governance, Community Development, Housing

Regulatory barriers make housing less affordable to millions of households in the US and abroad. If regulatory barriers were reduced, small developers could provide housing at more affordable prices. This article assesses the current state of knowledge about the effects of federal,...

Crisis, Experimentation, and Prosperity: A Year of Policy Advocacy

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2024

Level Other

State(s) All States

Source ProGov21

Policy Areas -

This publication compiles all the policy analysis conducted and published by ProGov21 for the year of 2023. It includes policy roadmaps for local public officials addressing issues of equity, reproductive health, immigration, land use, public finance, regional coordination, housing,...

The Case for Climate-Informed Zoning: A Study of Fiscal Impact in Norfolk, VA

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2023

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States

Source Smart Growth America

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources

As the impacts of climate change continue to intensify, zoning presents a key tool to direct development to protect communities from climate events. Norfolk, Virginia, a city at severe risk from sea level rise due to climate change, is among the first cities in the US to use climate...

Accessibility in Practice: A Guide for Transportation and Land Use Decision Making

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2017

Level City or Town, State

State(s) All States

Source State Smart Transportation Initiative

Policy Areas Transportation & Mobility

This report guides planning agencies and transportation decision makers in measuring accessibility and incorporating those metrics into decision making by outlining general concepts, data needs and availability, analysis tools, and other considerations in measuring accessibility....

2021 Madison Resolution 21-00413 Authorizing the Creation of a City Land Bank

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2021

Level City or Town

State(s) Wisconsin

Source City of Madison

Policy Areas Public Spaces

This Resolution authorizes the creation of the City of Madison Land Bank and approves the City of Madison Land Banking Fund. The Land Banking Fund's policy, attached to this document, establishes guidelines to inform how real estate will be acquired and how uses of acquired property...

2015 Chicago Ordinance 1741015 Providing Zoning Incentives for Green Roofs

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2015

Level City or Town

State(s) Illinois

Source City of Chicago

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Environment & Natural Resources, Public Spaces

Chicago's zoning code awards a Floor-Area Ratio (FAR) bonus for green roofs that cover more than 50 percent of the roof area in downtown mixed-use districts. Developments with larger green roof plots can earn higher bonuses which incentivizes more green roof development without large...

Re-Thinking the Urban Freeway: Options for Rebuilding, Replacing, Altering or Otherwise Addressing Aging Freeways

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2013

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Mayors Innovation Project

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development, Public Spaces, Transportation & Mobility

Urban freeways create barriers to movement within cities, institutionalize social inequities, contribute to environmental degradation, and encourage suburban sprawl. As urban freeways approach the end of their useful lives, decisions on the fate of an individual freeway will be place...

Transit-Oriented Development and Joint Development in the United States

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2002

Level County, City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Transportation Research Board Of The National Academies

Policy Areas Transportation & Mobility, Housing, Community Development, Public Spaces

This report reviews Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and Joint Development (JD) in the United States. It covers topics such as the history of TOD and JD, the benefits and challenges associated with them, and best practices for their implementation. The review concludes that TOD...

Live-Work Units

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Sustainable Development Code

Policy Areas Community Development, Economic Justice, Public Spaces, Transportation & Mobility

Live-work units are properties that combine residential and nonresidential uses in either commercial or residential zoned areas. This memo explains how live-work units reduce car usage and greenhouse gas emissions, minimize urban sprawl, and encourage local economic development. It...

Twin Cities Region Equitable Development Principles & Scorecard

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2014

Level City or Town, County

State(s) Minnesota

Source Community Engagement Steering Committee Equitable Development

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development, Public Spaces, Energy, Housing, Public Safety, Democracy & Governance, Transportation & Mobility

The principles and practices of equitable development, environmental justice, and affordability are guides for all communities: suburban cities, rural communities and urban neighborhoods. This equitable development tool will help guide development projects to 1) become economically...

Metro Public Engagement Guide

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2024

Level City or Town

State(s) Oregon

Source Oregon Metro

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance

Public engagement efforts often fail to incorporate a diverse range of perspectives and maintain accountability to residents. Local officials must facilitate meaningful and accessible public participation, especially for decision-making on vital services like transportation, housing,...

Purchase of Development Rights

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Sustainable Development Code

Policy Areas Community Development, Democracy & Governance, Environment & Natural Resources, Public Spaces

Local governments prevent environmentally damaging land development by developing purchase of development rights (PDR) programs. PDR programs enable landowners to sell the development rights of their land to a trust while keeping ownership and use. This brief outlines best practices...

The Built Environment, Climate Change, and Health: Opportunities for Co-Benefits

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2008

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source SPARCC

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Health, Transportation & Mobility

The built environment, climate change, and public health are closely connected; human-generated greenhouse gases derive from aspects of the built environment such as transportation systems and infrastructure, building construction and operation, and land-use planning. Transportation...

The Benefits of PACE Financing for Commercial Real Estate Companies

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2016

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source PACENation

Policy Areas Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development, Public Spaces, Economic Justice, Civil Rights

Property managers often struggle to get technically sound energy efficiency and renewable energy projects approved for financial reasons. Sometimes the split incentive embedded in leases makes projects uneconomic for the building owner. Other times, property managers simply cannot...

2005 Austin Ordinance 20050519-008 Expanding TOD Zoning Districts

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2005

Level City or Town

State(s) Texas

Source City Council of Austin

Policy Areas Community Development, Public Spaces, Transportation & Mobility, Housing

This ordinance creates a transit-oriented development (TOD) zoning district. It expands TOD classification to include different types of neighborhoods and areas, such as Downtown TOD districts and Neighborhood TOD districts, and also establishes design and development standards tailored...

Massachusetts Inclusionary Zoning Model Bylaw

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2007

Level City or Town, County, State

State(s) Massachusetts

Source Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Policy Areas Community Development, Housing

This model law promotes affordable housing by introducing inclusive zoning, incentivizing the construction of affordable housing, and requires certain developments to include at least 10 low-income housing units. It also outlines exemptions and incentives available to developers who...

Elizabeth City Parks and Recreation Department Comprehensive Master Plan

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2016

Level City or Town, County

State(s) North Carolina

Source Elizabeth City/Pasquotank County Parks and Recreation Department

Policy Areas Community Development, Democracy & Governance, Public Spaces

Elizabeth City and Pasquotank County consolidated their parks departments which reduced costs but maintained quality facilities and services. This report provides an overview of how major changes that followed the merger helped improve community access to sports complexes, and recommends...

2007 Maine Informed Growth Act for Big Box Stores

Type Act or Session Law

Year 2007

Level State

State(s) Maine

Source Maine State Legislature

Policy Areas Community Development, Economic Justice

This state law requires developers to submit an impact report for superstores, or retail stores that are 75,000 square feet or larger. The comprehensive impact study must identify the effects of the large-scale retail development on the community as a whole, including economic effects...

Land Value Tax

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2021

Level City or Town

State(s) Minnesota

Source Metro Transit

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Finance & Procurement, Transportation & Mobility

This report finds that land value taxes incentivize development by levying higher taxes on under-utilized parcels. It includes an evaluation of a bill considered the Minnesota Legislature to permit such projects, as well as case studies illustrating how land value taxes encourage...

Parking Reform Made Easy

Type Article

Year 2013

Level City or Town, State

State(s) California

Source Richard Willson

Policy Areas Community Development, Transportation & Mobility

Excessive and inefficient parking requirements in zoning ordinances have led to the overbuilding and underutilization of parking spaces, contributing to sprawling developments and wasted land. Localities should reform parking requirements by examining local planning characteristics,...

ProGov21 Policy Library

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