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That’s called by-right and lots of cities (maybe all? Not sure if it’s a local/state/federal thing) have that. That doesn’t stop NIMBYism (all you have to do is

by upzone 8y ago

That’s called by-right and lots of cities (maybe all? Not sure if it’s a local/state/federal thing) have that. That doesn’t stop NIMBYism (all you have to do is downzone), but for areas that are reasonably densely zoned, you don’t need any variances for projects that conform to zoning ordinances. The real issue with NIMBYs is how restrictive zoning is. Sure, you can build anything you want if it conforms, but good luck getting it to conform. For example, single-family home neighborhoods are pretty much stuck that way. Want a nice, compact apartment building? Or maybe even a fourplex? Good luck. In my reasonably-sized college town, upzoning happens once PER DECADE. This is the affordable housing crisis at its core, and it’s remarkably procedural and boring. People are unable to afford homes and apartments because of simple tedium that takes place in beige board rooms at 11:00 PM on a Monday (i.e. local politics).

maccam94 8y ago
> The real issue with NIMBYs is how restrictive zoning is Yeah, zoning in the US tends to be single use, which prevents most buildings from being built in most places. I recently read a fantastic blog post on how zoning works in Japan, where uses are instead ranked by how much of a "nuisance" they are, and zones have a maximum nuisance level. Anything at or below that level can be constructed in that zone. http://devonzuegel.com/post/north-american-vs-japanese-zoning http://devonzuegel.com/post/north-american-vs-japanese-zonin...
- ryandrake 8y ago
  I guess it makes me a dirty NIMBY but I live on a very suburban street with a row of modest single family homes, and I'd rather my neighbor not start a tire recycling business in his backyard, or replace it with a 3 story apartment building. That said, I have no problem with people who want urban living in already-urban areas, and it's a shame when NIMBYs try to stop that kind of development.
eitally 8y ago
As a local example that doesn't even apply to multi-family/multi-unit houses, consider the absolutely insane zoning rule in San Mateo county that requires every SFM to have at least 2 covered parking spaces. Seriously, wtf.
tarsinge 8y ago
>This is the affordable housing crisis at its core, and it’s remarkably procedural and boring. People are unable to afford homes and apartments because of simple tedium that takes place in beige board rooms at 11:00 PM on a Monday (i.e. local politics). What is preventing companies from moving to less expensive cities? By the free market logic, it should decrease demand/rent in hot cities, and provide these companies more affordable workers. At which point is the housing pressure strong enough so that jobs start moving elsewhere, and market effects between cities or state come into play (i.e. if a city "choose" to limit housing it will limit it's economic potential compared to others)?
- Zach_the_Lizard 8y ago
  >What is preventing companies from moving to less expensive cities? Those cities also have the same restrictive zoning laws, preventing new office buildings and housing just like the expensive cities. Many American cities are experiencing price increases out of line with prevailing wages to the point that the median income cannot afford the median house. And we're not talking NYC and SF;think Nashville. Furthermore, talent is concentrated in a few areas. A software firm in Nome, Alaska will have a harder time hiring than one in New York. Infrastructure like airports keeps businesses in hubs. Ports make goods cheap to ship. Having large numbers of local customers helps too
- zapita 8y ago
  Companies do this all the time with their regional offices and factories. Usually they milk the city for subsidies and tax breaks while dangling the promise of job creation and trickle-down revitalization of local businesses. Then when the tax breaks expire, they move to greener pastures, leaving the city in a bigger financial hole than they left it. In Silicon Valley the dynamic is different, because it’s mostly global headquarters full of upper management and highly paid engineers. Unlike low-wage employees in regional offices, those people are not considered disposable, and aren’t willing to relocate on a whim. So relocating headquarters to another city or state is extremely hard for large companies.
tomatotomato37 8y ago
Don't forget the fun of HoA's. Those nice standardized apartment blueprints now need 2 tons of architectural foam glued on them to match the mcmansions in the neighboring subdivision, and then the renter's get charged an extra $20 a month so a group of jaded retirees can argue with each other about the grass height surrounding their $500,000 houses Source: I rent in one of these atrocities.

by upzone 8y ago

maccam94 8y ago

> The real issue with NIMBYs is how restrictive zoning is Yeah, zoning in the US tends to be single use, which prevents most buildings from being built in most places. I recently read a fantastic blog post on how zoning works in Japan, where uses are instead ranked by how much of a "nuisance" they are, and zones have a maximum nuisance level. Anything at or below that level can be constructed in that zone. http://devonzuegel.com/post/north-american-vs-japanese-zoning http://devonzuegel.com/post/north-american-vs-japanese-zonin...

ryandrake 8y ago
I guess it makes me a dirty NIMBY but I live on a very suburban street with a row of modest single family homes, and I'd rather my neighbor not start a tire recycling business in his backyard, or replace it with a 3 story apartment building. That said, I have no problem with people who want urban living in already-urban areas, and it's a shame when NIMBYs try to stop that kind of development.

eitally 8y ago

As a local example that doesn't even apply to multi-family/multi-unit houses, consider the absolutely insane zoning rule in San Mateo county that requires every SFM to have at least 2 covered parking spaces. Seriously, wtf.

tarsinge 8y ago

>This is the affordable housing crisis at its core, and it’s remarkably procedural and boring. People are unable to afford homes and apartments because of simple tedium that takes place in beige board rooms at 11:00 PM on a Monday (i.e. local politics). What is preventing companies from moving to less expensive cities? By the free market logic, it should decrease demand/rent in hot cities, and provide these companies more affordable workers. At which point is the housing pressure strong enough so that jobs start moving elsewhere, and market effects between cities or state come into play (i.e. if a city "choose" to limit housing it will limit it's economic potential compared to others)?

Zach_the_Lizard 8y ago
>What is preventing companies from moving to less expensive cities? Those cities also have the same restrictive zoning laws, preventing new office buildings and housing just like the expensive cities. Many American cities are experiencing price increases out of line with prevailing wages to the point that the median income cannot afford the median house. And we're not talking NYC and SF;think Nashville. Furthermore, talent is concentrated in a few areas. A software firm in Nome, Alaska will have a harder time hiring than one in New York. Infrastructure like airports keeps businesses in hubs. Ports make goods cheap to ship. Having large numbers of local customers helps too
zapita 8y ago
Companies do this all the time with their regional offices and factories. Usually they milk the city for subsidies and tax breaks while dangling the promise of job creation and trickle-down revitalization of local businesses. Then when the tax breaks expire, they move to greener pastures, leaving the city in a bigger financial hole than they left it. In Silicon Valley the dynamic is different, because it’s mostly global headquarters full of upper management and highly paid engineers. Unlike low-wage employees in regional offices, those people are not considered disposable, and aren’t willing to relocate on a whim. So relocating headquarters to another city or state is extremely hard for large companies.

tomatotomato37 8y ago

Don't forget the fun of HoA's. Those nice standardized apartment blueprints now need 2 tons of architectural foam glued on them to match the mcmansions in the neighboring subdivision, and then the renter's get charged an extra $20 a month so a group of jaded retirees can argue with each other about the grass height surrounding their $500,000 houses Source: I rent in one of these atrocities.