Category: zoning

Before this exercise, I had no idea what the term “exclusionary zoning” meant. So the very first thing I decided do, in order to get a quick idea of what it was, was to do what any other “technology kid” would do: I did a Google search. A quick search for “exclusionary zoning definition” lead me to Wikipedia and gave me the following definition:

“Exclusionary zoning is a term that, in the United States, has come to be applied to local zoning measures that impose costs or requirements that exclude certain uses.

Before the 1960’s, these measures were generally seen as a means to maintain or improve living conditions, community, open space, aesthetics, etc. It wasn’t until relatively recently that courts turned away from local interests to regional impact on housing holding exclusionary zoning to be unlawful in certain circumstances.”

But, after reading this I was still uncertain. As I continued looking through some of the search results, I found the following:

1. “Zoning laws of a community that would serve to prohibit low- and moderate-income housing; considered illegal.  Example: Ocean Park adopted a zoning ordinance that required a housing density of not more than four homes per acre. This exclusionaryzoning would prevent apartments and condominiums from being built and was being challenged by a low-income housing developer.” (http://www.answers.com/topic/exclusionary-zoning)
2. “Exclusionary zoning is a zoning that, excludes a specific class of people or type of business from a district.” (http://definitions.uslegal.com/e/exclusionary-zoning/)

This is when I realized that “exclusionary zoning” was simply a practice of applying building restrictions to areas in a way that would cause a group of people or establishments to be unable to take part in, or to be excluded from, particular areas. Moreover, exclusionary zoning includes specific kinds of policies that state how certain land and areas may be utilized. The Kirwan Institute report from November 2009 discusses how neighborhood conditions of a specific area can affect the opportunities that are available for those who are living there. Such neighborhood conditions may include land use policies such as exclusionary zoning.

Robert Whitten’s  “West Hartford Zoning: Report to the Zoning Commission on the Zoning of West Hartford” from 1924, discusses the meaning of zoning in pages 6-13. Specifically, he states a long definition on page 8:

Zoning Definition

Mr. Whitten further explains that zoning regulations may call for different types of districts in a specific location. For example, in 1924 West Hartford contained residential, business, and industrial districts. (See below for a self-made, sample visual of what this kind of zoning looks like.) At first glance, these these zoning regulations may seem unharmful. But, over the years they have proven to be troublesome for specific racial groups. The Kirwan Institute report sheds light on the negative affects of different types of zoning, including exclusionary. This includes the maintaining of segregation that was first caused by housing barriers, such as redlining and racial steering, in particular housing areas.

This picture is just an example. This map is of Hartford neighborhoods and three zoning restrictions that have, as an example, been placed in these neighborhoods. Zoning would allow low income residents only in the blue areas, high income residents in the yellow areas, and business in green areas.

Since research has noted a correlation between zoning, both exclusionary and inclusionary, and negative effects on residents, some states (like Connecticut) have used legislation to help lower the effects of zoning processes. For example, as the Kirwan Institute report states, Connecticut has an Affordable Housing Appeals Statue. But even though statues like this may be in place, zoning affects job availability as well as housing affordability. Thus, zoning impacts racial groups, their housing, and their opportunities.

Reece, Jason et al. People, Place and Opportunity: Mapping Communitites of Opportunity in Connecticut. Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, 2009. Web. 18 Sept. 2012.

Whitten, Robert Harvey. West Hartford Zoning. Report to the Zoning Commission on the Zoning of West Hartford,. West Hartford, CT: Zoning Commission, 1924. Print.

Added on 09/19/12

Before this exercise, I had no idea what the term “exclusionary zoning” meant. So the very first thing I decided do, in order to get a quick idea of what it was, was to do what any other “technology kid” would do: I did a Google search. A quick search for “exclusionary zoning definition” lead me to Wikipedia and gave me the following definition:

“Exclusionary zoning is a term that, in the United States, has come to be applied to local zoning measures that impose costs or requirements that exclude certain uses.

Before the 1960’s, these measures were generally seen as a means to maintain or improve living conditions, community, open space, aesthetics, etc. It wasn’t until relatively recently that courts turned away from local interests to regional impact on housing holding exclusionary zoning to be unlawful in certain circumstances.”

But, after reading this I was still uncertain. As I continued looking through some of the search results, I found the following:

1. “Zoning laws of a community that would serve to prohibit low- and moderate-income housing; considered illegal.  Example: Ocean Park adopted a zoning ordinance that required a housing density of not more than four homes per acre. This exclusionaryzoning would prevent apartments and condominiums from being built and was being challenged by a low-income housing developer.” (http://www.answers.com/topic/exclusionary-zoning)
2. “Exclusionary zoning is a zoning that, excludes a specific class of people or type of business from a district.” (http://definitions.uslegal.com/e/exclusionary-zoning/)

This is when I realized that “exclusionary zoning” was simply a practice of applying building restrictions to areas in a way that would cause a group of people or establishments to be unable to take part in, or to be excluded from, particular areas. Moreover, exclusionary zoning includes specific kinds of policies that state how certain land and areas may be utilized. The Kirwan Institute report from November 2009 discusses how neighborhood conditions of a specific area can affect the opportunities that are available for those who are living there. Such neighborhood conditions may include land use policies such as exclusionary zoning.

Robert Whitten’s  “West Hartford Zoning: Report to the Zoning Commission on the Zoning of West Hartford” from 1924, discusses the meaning of zoning in pages 6-13. Specifically, he states a long definition on page 8:

Zoning Definition

Mr. Whitten further explains that zoning regulations may call for different types of districts in a specific location. For example, in 1924 West Hartford contained residential, business, and industrial districts. (See below for a self-made, sample visual of what this kind of zoning looks like.) At first glance, these these zoning regulations may seem unharmful. But, over the years they have proven to be troublesome for specific racial groups. The Kirwan Institute report sheds light on the negative affects of different types of zoning, including exclusionary. This includes the maintaining of segregation that was first caused by housing barriers, such as redlining and racial steering, in particular housing areas.

This picture is just an example. This map is of Hartford neighborhoods and three zoning restrictions that have, as an example, been placed in these neighborhoods. Zoning would allow low income residents only in the blue areas, high income residents in the yellow areas, and business in green areas.

Since research has noted a correlation between zoning, both exclusionary and inclusionary, and negative effects on residents, some states (like Connecticut) have used legislation to help lower the effects of zoning processes. For example, as the Kirwan Institute report states, Connecticut has an Affordable Housing Appeals Statue. But even though statues like this may be in place, zoning affects job availability as well as housing affordability. Thus, zoning impacts racial groups, their housing, and their opportunities.

Reece, Jason et al. People, Place and Opportunity: Mapping Communitites of Opportunity in Connecticut. Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, 2009. Web. 18 Sept. 2012.

Whitten, Robert Harvey. West Hartford Zoning. Report to the Zoning Commission on the Zoning of West Hartford,. West Hartford, CT: Zoning Commission, 1924. Print.

Added on 09/19/12

In the Kirwan Institute’s report on opportunity mapping, a key phrase is used often to describe the poor distribution of opportunity in the state of Connecticut. This phrase is “exclusionary zoning.”  To better understand the phrase, we need to break it into its parts.

Zoning, as described by Whitten in “West Hartford Zoning,” is a practice that many cities employ with the intent of organizing the land within the city. Whitten describes the three main districts as being residential, business, and industrial. When land within a city is zoned, the land is set aside for one of the three districts, and thus serves a specific purpose. Each district, then, has its own set of regulations. In the case of land in the residential district, certain regulations can be placed on the land, often determining how houses are built and which kinds of houses can be built in the area.

The word exclusionary is an adjective describing the act of excluding things, or shutting things out, based on a certain characteristic. In the case of exclusionary zoning, certain zoning regulations are created with the intent of denying the construction of certain types of homes within residential areas. In the Kirwin Institute’s report, Reece and his associates describe exactly how exclusionary zoning is used in the state of Connecticut, and why an observance of this practice is important:

Formal policies, such as exclusionary zoning… preserve and perpetuate segregation, even though they may not appear overtly discriminatory. Restrictions or bans on multi-family development, minimum lot sizes, age-restricted zoning, and low-density zoning limit the opportunities for low-income families or people of color to move to the suburbs, for both renters and owners. (Reece et al 20)

Simply put, certain zoning policies, especially in suburban areas, can place a ban on affordable and multi-family housing, preventing families of a lower economic status from enjoying the benefit of living in a suburban neighborhood and thus benefitting from a greater amount of opportunity.

(Planning and Zoning Department for Bloomfield, CT)

The practice of exclusionary zoning is more prevalent than one might think. Take any suburban city and study the zoning regulations—more often than not, the regulations will expose some sort of discrimination towards housing for low-income families. The example I use here comes from the Zoning Regulations for the town of Bloomfield, CT. I have two parts highlighted. First, I note that the only type of houses mentioned as being acceptable by zoning signoff are single family houses. This means that multiple family homes are not permitted. Second, I highlight that affordable houses may also be allowed– if the houses are for municipal firefighters. Essentially, the zoning regulations for the town of Bloomfield leave no room for families seeking more affordable housing. This allows the town to isolate itself from citizens of a lower economic class, and as a result, isolate itself from many of Hartford’s minorities, perpetuating the segregation Reece of the Kirwin Institute mentioned earlier.

Reece, Jason et al. People, Place and Opportunity: Mapping Communitites of Opportunity in Connecticut. Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, 2009. Web. 18 Sept. 2012.

Whitten, Robert Harvey. West Hartford Zoning. Report to the Zoning Commission on the Zoning of West Hartford,. West Hartford, CT: Zoning Commission, 1924. Print.

Planning and Zoning Department. Zoning Regulations: Town of Bloomfield– CT. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Town of Bloomfield– CT, 25 June 2009. Web. 17 Sept. 2012. <http://bloomfieldct.org/Resources.ashx?id=c0f0f920-1af1-4a57-99b9-6c86b43f4137>.

In the Kirwan Institute’s report on opportunity mapping, a key phrase is used often to describe the poor distribution of opportunity in the state of Connecticut. This phrase is “exclusionary zoning.”  To better understand the phrase, we need to break it into its parts.

Zoning, as described by Whitten in “West Hartford Zoning,” is a practice that many cities employ with the intent of organizing the land within the city. Whitten describes the three main districts as being residential, business, and industrial. When land within a city is zoned, the land is set aside for one of the three districts, and thus serves a specific purpose. Each district, then, has its own set of regulations. In the case of land in the residential district, certain regulations can be placed on the land, often determining how houses are built and which kinds of houses can be built in the area.

The word exclusionary is an adjective describing the act of excluding things, or shutting things out, based on a certain characteristic. In the case of exclusionary zoning, certain zoning regulations are created with the intent of denying the construction of certain types of homes within residential areas. In the Kirwin Institute’s report, Reece and his associates describe exactly how exclusionary zoning is used in the state of Connecticut, and why an observance of this practice is important:

Formal policies, such as exclusionary zoning… preserve and perpetuate segregation, even though they may not appear overtly discriminatory. Restrictions or bans on multi-family development, minimum lot sizes, age-restricted zoning, and low-density zoning limit the opportunities for low-income families or people of color to move to the suburbs, for both renters and owners. (Reece et al 20)

Simply put, certain zoning policies, especially in suburban areas, can place a ban on affordable and multi-family housing, preventing families of a lower economic status from enjoying the benefit of living in a suburban neighborhood and thus benefitting from a greater amount of opportunity.

(Planning and Zoning Department for Bloomfield, CT)

The practice of exclusionary zoning is more prevalent than one might think. Take any suburban city and study the zoning regulations—more often than not, the regulations will expose some sort of discrimination towards housing for low-income families. The example I use here comes from the Zoning Regulations for the town of Bloomfield, CT. I have two parts highlighted. First, I note that the only type of houses mentioned as being acceptable by zoning signoff are single family houses. This means that multiple family homes are not permitted. Second, I highlight that affordable houses may also be allowed– if the houses are for municipal firefighters. Essentially, the zoning regulations for the town of Bloomfield leave no room for families seeking more affordable housing. This allows the town to isolate itself from citizens of a lower economic class, and as a result, isolate itself from many of Hartford’s minorities, perpetuating the segregation Reece of the Kirwin Institute mentioned earlier.

Reece, Jason et al. People, Place and Opportunity: Mapping Communitites of Opportunity in Connecticut. Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, 2009. Web. 18 Sept. 2012.

Whitten, Robert Harvey. West Hartford Zoning. Report to the Zoning Commission on the Zoning of West Hartford,. West Hartford, CT: Zoning Commission, 1924. Print.

Planning and Zoning Department. Zoning Regulations: Town of Bloomfield– CT. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Town of Bloomfield– CT, 25 June 2009. Web. 17 Sept. 2012. <http://bloomfieldct.org/Resources.ashx?id=c0f0f920-1af1-4a57-99b9-6c86b43f4137>.

As I sat in my Organizing by Neighborhood class last week, the most important thing that I took from the lecture is that neighborhoods go through cycles. As we are examining the connections between housing and schooling in Cities, Schools and Suburbs this is a very important anecdote to keep in mind.  Redlining, block busting, restrictive covenants and racial steering were practices that increased racial segregation and these practices were overtly discriminatory. On the other hand, the introduction and implementation of zoning codes not only served a purpose in the effectiveness and efficiency of land use in cities, but also allowed the governing officials to continue to racially segregate people in amore discreet manner (Wikipedia). Zoning codes are and continue to be one of the most powerful tools that restrict people from moving into certain neighborhoods.

http://affordablehousinginstitute.org/blogs/us/wp-content/uploads/exclusion.jpg

Exclusionary zoning often excludes low-income families and people of color from attaining quality and affordable housing, education, employment et cetera. Some factors effecting low- income families and people of color are restrictions on multi-family development, minimum lot sizes, age restricted zoning, and low density zoning (Reece p. 20). Although these restrictions are not explicitly discriminating against low-income families and people of color, they further perpetuate their lack of access to opportunity.

West Hartford’s 1924 report to their Zoning Commission states, “Zoning is the direction of building development along orderly and well considered lines of city growth…On the human side zoning means better homes and an increase of health, comfort and happiness for all people (Whitten).” On the contrary to what was written in their report, zoning meant better homes, increase of health and comfort and happiness for some not all.

The case of Village of Euclid, v. Ambler Realty Co in 1926 was the first significant attempt to combat exclusionary zoning (Wikipedia). Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the Village of Euclid, there are still efforts to fight against exclusionary zoning in pursuit for equal opportunity and access for all. The Connecticut Fair Housing Center and Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity has partnered to not only identify but also propose solutions to growing opportunity disparities that persist for low-income families and people of color. The creation of opportunity maps is a great first step in changing the housing landscape today. Changes in the current housing landscape will in turn change other related factors including, but not limited to quality education, employment opportunities and benefits, and more healthy living in which everyone should be afforded regardless of their background.

Sources:

“Village of Euclid, Ohio v. Ambler Realty Co.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Sept. 2012. Web. 17 Sept. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Village_of_Euclid,_Ohio_v._Ambler_Realty_Co.>.

Reece, Jason. “People, Place and Opportunity: Mapping Communities of Opportunity in Connecticut.” Connecticut Fair Housing Center: 1-32.

Whitten, Robert H. “West Hartford Zoning: Report to the Zoning Commission on the Zoning of West Hartford.” West Hartford, Conn: Zoning Commission, 1924 (courtesy of the Connecticut State Library)

“Zoning.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Sept. 2012. Web. 17 Sept. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoning>.