Land Use

4 articles

Diverse group of citizens expressing concern and seeking information outside a city hall regarding local zoning laws and neighborhood development.

What Are Local Zoning Laws and How Can Citizens Influence Them?

Despite countless public meetings and petitions, local residents cannot directly write, change, or expand the zoning laws dictating their neighborhoods’ development.

Derek Molina·June 7, 2026

A cityscape showing a contrast between modern skyscrapers and older buildings, symbolizing the complex impact of zoning ordinances on property development.

Neighborhoods

What Are Local Zoning Ordinances and How Do They Impact Property Development?

Between 2000 and 2019, 1,136 cities across eight metropolitan regions implemented 180 distinct land-use reforms.

Aaron Blake·June 3, 2026

Split image contrasting a lush green park with a new apartment building, symbolizing the conflict between urban development and green spaces.

Community

Urban development impacts green spaces, prioritizes housing needs

Rochester's City Council approved the sale of a half-acre Charlotte Street green space for $150,000 on April 21, 2026.

Derek Molina·May 30, 2026

Aerial view of a city neighborhood, illustrating the impact of zoning laws on urban development and housing diversity.

Neighborhoods

What Is Zoning and How Does It Shape Neighborhood Development?

In San Francisco, zoning laws once dictated that only members of the immediate family one generation out could live together, with the sole exception of live-in servants.

Derek Molina·May 19, 2026