Reply to I have a wonky question about zoning.

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]First, given that we have a housing shortage. If you don’t believe that there’s a housing shortage, this question isn’t fair you.

Let’s say that two opposing politicians have different views on the role of zoning in the effort to build more housing. At the risk of polarizing people, let’s not use their real names and call them Gergich and Bieber.

Mr. Bieber believes that we need to upzone in order to increase the capacity for more housing. Mr. Gergich meanwhile believes that we already have the zoning, but we need to actually build what is already zoned for. Supporters of Mr. Bieber say that not everything that is zoned for works out getting built, and was not able to explain why. That being said, is it necessarily sound planning policy to exhaust every theoretically zoned piece of land before readjusting zoning?

Generally, I’m not in favor of blanket upzoning and building now and [b]figuring it all out later,[/b] and the Gergich version proposes that everything that is zoned for is already structurally figured out. But we do need more housing. I just wonder if existing theoretical zoning capacity is the reason why we don’t have it. [/quote]

Figuring all WHAT out later?

The Gergich version basically says: we don't need to allow Builder A to build Project X, because Builder B is already approved for Project Y (it's just that Builder B has no actual plans to actually build Project Y any time soon, if ever).

Mind you, I'd be happy with a reform that says you have to build within 5 years or your approval expires.

Meanwhile, obviously not everything allowed under zoning actually gets built. What explanation is needed here?

I am not a supporter of Mr. Bieber.[/quote]

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