ProGov21 Policy Library

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Sustainable Development Code

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Food, Health, Public Spaces

Localities can promote farm stands by allowing them as by-right uses across zoning districts and streamlining permitting processes. This memo outlines how farm stand-friendly ordinances expand economic opportunities for small producers and increase the availability of fresh produce....

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...

Creating a Healthy Food Zone Around Schools

Type Fact Sheet or Infographic

Year 2009

Level County

State(s) All States

Source Mayors Innovation Project

Policy Areas Health, Children & Families, Democracy & Governance, Food, Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Education, Community Development, Public Spaces, Transportation & Mobility

Many schools are surrounded by fast food restaurants, which provide students with easy access to unhealthy foods and undermine schools' efforts to offer nutritious meals. Prohibiting fast food restaurants from locating near schools is one strategy to help reduce childhood obesity...

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...

Local Policies for Environmental Justice: A National Scan

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2019

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States

Source The New School

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Health

While local zoning codes and land use policies historically have been tools for segregating people and concentrating pollution in low-income communities and communities of color, community-based advocacy can transform these same tools into means for addressing cumulative burdens borne...

2004 Los Angeles Big Box Zoning Ordinance 176166

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2004

Level City or Town

State(s) California

Source Los Angeles City Council

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

This ordinance requires planned superstores to complete an economic impact analysis before seeking approval for their projects. These reports shall identify whether the superstore would result in the physical displacement of any jobs and businesses; the demolition of housing; the...

Massachusetts Inclusionary Zoning Model Bylaw

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2007

Level City or Town

State(s) Massachusetts

Source Executive Office Of Energy And Environmental Affairs

Policy Areas Housing, Public Safety

This ordinance: requires a permit for any development that results in a net increase of 10 or more dwelling units and the grant of a Special Permit from the Board of Appeals or other designated Special Permit Granting Authority for such a development; requires that any developer using...

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,...

Estimating Parking Utilization in Multi-Family Residential Buildings in Washington, D.C.

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2015

Level City or Town

State(s) -

Source Center for Neighborhood Technology

Policy Areas Transportation & Mobility, Community Development, Public Spaces, Data & Technology

The District Department of Transportation and the District of Columbia Office of Planning led an effort to develop an empirical model for parking utilization in Washington, D.C, and to apply that model to an interactive, web-based tool utilizing the model named ParkRight DC, to support...

No Room for Rent: Addressing Rising Rent Prices Through Public Investment and Public Power

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2021

Level City or Town, State

State(s) All States

Source Roosevelt Institute

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Housing

This report urges policymakers to implement policies that tackle the rising cost of rent. In particular, states and cities should fund a major increase in the supply of affordable housing, adopt new forms of zoning regulation that can enable the increase in supply of affordable housing,...

2004 Sacramento Ordinance 60 Establishing Affordable Housing Requirements

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2004

Level City or Town

State(s) California

Source Sacramento City Council

Policy Areas Community Development, Public Spaces, Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Housing, Public Safety

This ordinance specifies that a portion of every new housing development project must include housing which is affordable for low income and very low income people. The percentage of the new development which much be affordable to these groups is subject to change conditional upon...

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...

Addressing Health Disparities in Cities: Lessons from the Field

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2015

Level County

State(s) All States

Source Mayors Innovation Project

Policy Areas Health, Children & Families, Democracy & Governance, Food, Environment & Natural Resources, Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Education, Community Development, Public Spaces, Transportation & Mobility

A child's health is a key predictor for his or her future success and well-being. Unfortunately, far too many children face barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential because of where they live, learn and play. The inequitable distribution of social, economic and...

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...

The Impact of the Built Environment on Mental Wellness

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Urban Habitat

Policy Areas Civil Rights, Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development, Public Spaces, Housing, Public Safety, Health, Transportation & Mobility

The physical landscapes of places and the sociocultural context in which people live and build communities have direct and indirect effects on mental wellness. This report looks at how factors related to the built environment, such as exclusionary land use practices, green spaces,...

Bridging the Gap: Creating Income Restricted Housing Through Inclusionary Development

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2020

Level City or Town

State(s) Massachusetts

Source Boston Planning and Development Agency

Policy Areas Civil Rights, Community Development, Economic Justice, Housing

Boston's Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP) bridges the affordability gap faced by households that are ineligible for subsidies but still unable to afford housing. The policy requires developers to include affordable units in their projects or contribute to a city-wide affordable...

Parking Requirements and Housing Development: Regulation and Reform in Los Angeles

Type Article

Year 2014

Level City or Town

State(s) California

Source ACCESS Magazine, Spring 2014, Number 44

Policy Areas Community Development, Housing, Transportation & Mobility

The cost of parking is being shifted to housing costs due to minimum parking requirements, which reduces the amount and variety of housing available. The city should remove parking requirements to encourage more and varied housing development. This policy change is related to urban...

2006 Inglewood Big Box Zoning Ordinance 06-12

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2006

Level City or Town

State(s) California

Source City of Inglewood

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Community Development, Public Spaces

This ordinance requires planned superstores to complete an economic impact analysis before seeking approval for their projects. These reports shall identify whether the superstore would result in the physical displacement of any jobs and businesses; the demolition of housing; the...

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...

Sustainable Development Code

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2018

Level City or Town, County, Other Boards and Agencies

State(s) All States

Source Sustainable Development Code

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development, Energy, Housing, Transportation & Mobility

The Sustainable Development Code offers best practices for community development to build resilient, environmentally conscious, economically secure, and socially equitable communities. Many development codes are decades old and not prepared to confront today’s changes, such as environmental...

How Cities are Paving the Way to Fair Housing: An Expert Discussion

Type Article

Year 2021

Level City or Town

State(s) Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts

Source Urban Institute

Policy Areas Civil Rights, Economic Justice, Housing

Housing initiatives in Chicago, Louisville, and Boston provide models for other local governments to develop equitable zoning policies and preserve access to fair housing. This article outlines how these initiatives normalize efforts to advance racial equity within housing agencies...

2006 Alameda County Big Box Zoning Ordinance 18

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2006

Level County

State(s) California

Source Alameda County

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Community Development, Public Spaces

This ordinance restricts the construction of large-scale retail stores, or superstores, within Alameda County. Any entity who wished to operate a large-scale retail store shall apply for and receive a conditional use permit. Permit applicants must prepare an economic impact analysis...

ProGov21 Policy Library

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