Practice Gentle Density

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Cities, towns, and counties across the country are facing a housing availability and affordability crisis. To address the issue, many are developing plans and policies that promote housing stock diversification in both new and infill development scenarios. However, when such development proposals are presented for review and approval, neighbors often fiercely oppose them, citing concern over a perceived change in the character of their neighborhoods and loss in property value and quality of life.

Bulk and dimensional standards can play a significant role in blending missing-middle housing types into new and existing neighborhoods. Both new and existing neighborhoods can benefit from use-specific standards for higher-density missing-middle housing types. Objective design standards can help to provide fair certainty as to the appearance and function of new and infill development for both current residents and developers. And standards addressing the transition between lower-density and higher-density housing merit special consideration.

This issue of Zoning Practice explores zoning strategies that balance the concerns of residents and the demands of the housing market by accommodating gentle density increases in a context-sensitive manner. From historic downtown neighborhoods to modern residential subdivisions, the tools presented can be used by planners throughout the country to implement housing policy through regulation.

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