A note from Toccarra Nicole Thomas on the new Center for Zoning Solutions

For decades, zoning has been used as a tool to segregate and exclude. It has contributed to some of the biggest problems that communities across America face today: people can’t afford to buy homes (let alone rent), there’s an over-reliance on single-family-only housing options, and our sprawling communities are harming people’s health and the environment—not … Continued

Land Use and Development Zoning

Smart Growth America launches the Center for Zoning Solutions

Press Release     October 15 – Smart Growth America is proud to announce the launch of the Center for Zoning Solutions (CZS), our initiative dedicated to promoting and implementing zoning reform that fosters healthier, more vibrant communities. CZS will build upon Smart Growth America’s 25 years of experience supporting communities to create people-oriented places … Continued

Land Use and Development

Eliminating Zoning Barriers to Affordable Housing Guidebook

In response to the nation’s housing affordability crisis, many states, counties, and municipalities have enacted zoning reform to encourage and facilitate affordable housing choices. The Eliminating Zoning Barriers to Affordable Housing Guidebook provides practical and evidence-based solutions for practitioners seeking to address the housing supply and affordability crisis in their communities through zoning reform. Audience … Continued

Land Use and Development Zoning

Request for qualifications: Climate and Land Use Research, Communications & Advisory Support

Smart Growth America (SGA) is seeking a contractor to support the organization’s Climate and Land Use work including ongoing technical assistance and research projects. The contractor will contribute to key climate adaptation projects on a regular, part-time schedule over a 3-5 month period, writing communications materials, managing aspects of a new technical assistance program, and/or … Continued

Climate Change Land Use and Development

Growing our Climate & Land Use Technical Assistance Cohort

Smart Growth America (SGA) is excited to announce a second round of climate and land use technical assistance (TA) opportunities for community-based organizations across the U.S. This new round builds on our successful partnerships from 2023, offering expanded support for communities advocating for equitable and climate-resilient land use, housing, and infrastructure policies. A couple of our existing partners include Incubate Neighbood Center (Fort Pierce, Florida) and Freedom Org (Edgecombe County, North Carolina), who came together in Washington, DC with the broader cohort to celebrate nine months of working collaboratively.

Climate Change Land Use and Development Technical assistance

So your community has too much parking. What can you do about it?

More often than not, communities take their parking for granted. When parking is discussed at all, the general assumption tends to be that more parking is needed, not less. But as we’ve covered before, American cities and towns often have more parking than they need, thanks to archaic parking requirements that fail to respond to the needs of the day. Adjusting these requirements can have numerous benefits, if decision-makers know where to begin.

Land Use and Development Transportation Zoning