Housing » Zoning Policies
Why It's Important
Zoning policies are the primary tool for local planning. Every human activity has
a zone of its own. Zoning plays a large role in how non-institutional care is provided,
for example, policies that allow single-family dwellings to be zoned such that an
apartment can be built on site allow for flexibility in care models.
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How the U.S. Is Doing
Zoning and other conventional land development codes control the physical form of
communities. They classify land uses and regulate buildings and adjoining physical
space through the use of setbacks, height limits, floor area ratios (FARs), and
regulations covering site coverage, density, and parking. A growing number of planners,
architects, developers, and local government officials have become disenchanted
with existing zoning ordinances and land development codes. They contend that such
rules and policies have encouraged sprawling, automobile-reliant development patterns.
Proponents of smart growth and new urbanism suggest that changes to these land use
codes can serve as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization, environmental protection,
and economic vitality. In addition, a growing number of public health experts view
the reform of planning and zoning policies and practices as opportunities to improve
the built environment and increase physical activity among a largely sedentary population
by promoting healthier communities. (ICMA SCHILLING 2009)
Land use and other planning processes can significantly impact the ability of an
older adult to age successfully in their home and community. Communities need to
broadly re-examine existing planning policies to reflect the needs of an aging population
and to develop strategies to engage older adults to be actively engaged in these
processes. These recommendations offer cities and counties concrete steps they can
take to begin preparing for the aging of the Baby Boomers. (N4A MATURING OF AMERICA
2006)
Data & Information Sources
Aging in Place Technical Assistance
http://www.aginginplaceinitiative.org/storage/aipi/documents/aging_in_place_technical_assistance_final.pdf
Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics
http://www.agingstats.gov/agingstatsdotnet/main_site/default.aspx
International City/County Management Association, Website,
Schilling, Creating a Regulatory Blueprint for Healthy Community Design,
2009
http://icma.org/main/ld.asp?ldid=19338&hsid=1&tpid=31&t=0
N4A, The Maturing of America, 2006
http://www.aginginplaceinitiative.org/storage/aipi/documents/maturing_of_america_reformatted_for_printing.pdf
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/