Land Use Planning and Zoning

Land use planning and zoning are foundational components of urban and regional planning that involve the systematic regulation of land to guide community development. Land use planning is the process of creating a comprehensive, long-term vision for how land within a municipality will be utilized, designating areas for specific functions like residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational activities. Zoning is the primary legal and regulatory tool used to implement this plan, dividing the community into distinct districts and enforcing ordinances that specify permissible uses, building heights, lot sizes, and other development standards to ensure orderly growth, protect public health and safety, and promote a functional and cohesive environment.

1. Foundations of Land Use Planning
   1. Defining Land Use Planning
      1. Purpose and Goals
         1. Guiding Orderly Development
         2. Balancing Competing Land Uses
         3. Promoting Sustainability
         4. Protecting Public Health and Safety
         5. Preserving Community Character
         6. Managing Growth and Change
      2. Scope and Scale
         1. Site-Specific Planning
            1. Parcel-Level Analysis
            2. Site Design Considerations
            3. Environmental Site Assessment
         2. Neighborhood Planning
            1. Community Character Preservation
            2. Local Amenities and Services
            3. Neighborhood Identity
         3. City or Municipal Planning
            1. Urban Growth Management
            2. Infrastructure Coordination
            3. Municipal Service Delivery
         4. Regional Planning
            1. Inter-Jurisdictional Coordination
            2. Regional Transportation Networks
            3. Environmental Resource Management
            4. Economic Development Coordination
         5. State Planning
            1. Statewide Policy Frameworks
            2. State-Mandated Planning Requirements
            3. Growth Management Laws
   2. Defining Zoning
      1. Role as Implementation Tool
         1. Translating Plan Policies into Regulations
         2. Controlling Land Use and Development Intensity
         3. Establishing Development Standards
      2. Relationship to Comprehensive Plan
         1. Ensuring Zoning Consistency with Adopted Plans
         2. Zoning as Legal Mechanism for Plan Implementation
         3. Plan-Zoning Coordination Requirements
   3. Historical Evolution of Planning and Zoning
      1. Early Urbanization and Industrial City Problems
         1. Overcrowding and Public Health Issues
         2. Unregulated Land Use Conflicts
         3. Industrial Pollution and Nuisances
         4. Tenement Housing Conditions
      2. City Beautiful Movement
         1. Emphasis on Aesthetics and Civic Design
         2. Influence on Early Planning Practices
         3. Daniel Burnham and City Beautiful Plans
      3. Standard State Zoning Enabling Act (SZEA)
         1. Model Legislation for Local Zoning Authority
         2. Adoption by States and Municipalities
         3. Key Provisions and Requirements
      4. Standard City Planning Enabling Act (SCPEA)
         1. Framework for Comprehensive Planning
         2. Integration with Zoning Authority
         3. Planning Commission Establishment
      5. Post-War Suburbanization and Impacts
         1. Expansion of Single-Use Zoning
         2. Automobile-Oriented Development
         3. Urban Sprawl and Decentralization
         4. Federal Housing and Highway Policies
   4. Rationale and Justification for Regulation
      1. Promoting Public Health, Safety, and General Welfare
         1. Preventing Nuisances and Incompatible Uses
         2. Ensuring Safe Building Practices
         3. Protecting Air and Water Quality
      2. Managing Community Growth and Development
         1. Directing Growth to Appropriate Areas
         2. Preventing Leapfrog Development
         3. Coordinating Development with Infrastructure
      3. Protecting Property Values
         1. Stabilizing Neighborhoods
         2. Preventing Incompatible Uses
         3. Maintaining Community Standards
      4. Ensuring Compatibility of Land Uses
         1. Buffering Residential from Industrial Uses
         2. Creating Transition Zones
         3. Managing Land Use Conflicts
      5. Providing Public Services Efficiently
         1. Coordinating Infrastructure with Development
         2. Reducing Service Delivery Costs
         3. Planning for Adequate Public Facilities
      6. Protecting Environmental Resources
         1. Preserving Open Space and Natural Habitats
         2. Managing Stormwater and Pollution
         3. Protecting Sensitive Environmental Areas