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I've designed a few homes and while zoning can be very constraining, it's not all bad. When I do a daylight study, its usability in and around the home along w
by 2ICofafireteam 4y ago
I've designed a few homes and while zoning can be very constraining, it's not all bad.
When I do a daylight study, its usability in and around the home along with the impacts on energy efficiency are the top concerns when it comes to the design, but considering the neighbours is important too: In city lots at higher latitudes it's easy to cast a patio next door into permanent shade for large parts of the year.
For just this reason, I wouldn't throw away all zoning. Setbacks and height restrictions can really constrain me, but prevents me from being a jerk.
Density limits and a lot of occupancy type restrictions, on the other hand, can go to Hell. They prevent communities from having diverse properties (and the self sufficiency that comes with it) or evolving to meet local needs.
- sgregnt 4y agoHow about neighbors buy insurance against such a development?
- bombcar 4y agoMore variants allowed would help a lot - if a setback is because of neighbors, allow it to be varianced with cooperation from the neighbors.
- 2ICofafireteam 4y agoThis process is available where I am, but spending thousands of dollars to consultants, meeting with City Planners, attending hearings, and months of waiting with no guarantee scare away a lot of folks.
- voisin 4y agoFor some reason, planners argue that “neighbours change over time” and this is meant to be a reason why this kind of variance can’t be allowed. Makes no sense to me, as future neighbours would know what they are getting into when they buy. Perhaps there needs to be a notice period preventing someone from agreeing to a variance and then selling their house before the variance activity has been completed.