To Zone or not to Zone…
Zoning is the best friend and worst enemy of developers and neighbors, depending on the side of the fence you find yourself. Zoning is also one of the best tools for planning and developing a growing city.
In my year-and-a-half on council, I have heard the evils of zoning, as well as the praises, and have formed some strong opinions. I’m a fan of zoning when it’s used with balance and common sense. It can help protect property values and ensure appropriate development occurs in contiguous areas.
However, several pertinent questions arise: What makes the most sense? Twenty years from now, what will this do to the surrounding area? Will this complement the area? What will this do to traffic flow? And, of course, what does the Comprehensive Plan say as well as the future roadways plan? (more…)
