Just about every community I've examined has established their zoning regimes to drive most housing types (typically just about any multi-family) into a discretionary review process. This process invites non-evidentiary arguments and social biases to control the narrative, the politics, and the approval process- based upon "who shows up". This also invites parochialism and nativism that certain much-needed development types "are not welcome here", despite advancing the public needs and goals. Even when things go smoothly, discretionary approvals inject uncertainty into the process and lengthen timelines, which slows housing production and increases costs. American Planning Association League of Wisconsin Municipalities National League of Cities Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies Housing Matters Urban Institute Urban Land Institute
Housing Affordability Institute released a new whitepaper highlighting issues with discretionary reviews in the housing approval process. Highlights: 1. Housing approvals take longer in the discretionary review process. 2.Affordability and access can also be negatively impacted by the discretionary review process. 3. Moving away from discretionary reviews requires municipalities to develop policies in which performance standards do not inhibit or prevent the allowed density or housing type from being built by right. https://lnkd.in/gAsj6r64 #housing #housingpolicy #landplanning #communitydevelopment
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