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NIMBY-ism/anti-NIMBY-ism isn't all or nothing. I support an increase in housing development and cautious modifications to zoning regulations because I believe

NIMBY-ism/anti-NIMBY-ism isn't all or nothing. I support an increase in housing development and cautious modifications to zoning regulations because I believe these changes will improve housing affordability for humans. I support more development into renewable energy sources because I believe these changes will improve the environment that humans must live in. I do not support a massive increase in data center development, resulting in situations like xAI poisoning parts of Memphis and Southaven with methane turbines.

tptacek 6mo ago
"Cautious" modifications to zoning is a NIMBY argument, just for what it's worth.
- switchbak 6mo ago
  That's such an oversimplified thing to say. And how much work are those quotes doing?
  - tptacek 6mo ago
    I don't agree, and none.
- georgemcbay 6mo ago
  Zoning is currently too restrictive in the US. I believe it should be less so. "Cautious" as I mean it exists in the space between where we are now and just throwing zoning regulations out entirely and YOLOing it. I support significant changes, but I don't support just eliminating all regulations with no replacements and expecting "the market" to do the right thing. IMO we'd be trading one problem with another likely much more destructive one. The NIMBY argument is generally that the current zoning system is fine (and then hiding behind it to support their NIMBY-ism).
  - Karrot_Kream 6mo ago
    This kind of data center opposition is part of the NIMBY playbook though. A core part of NIMBY positions is that the built environment should be purely discretionary; every change to the neighborhood should have sufficient community approval to go forward. The idea being that current residents should have veto rights over what is built in their community. Highly restrictive zoning just happens to be the method by which this land use philosophy is exercised. Regular zoning in most of the US already covers data centers. They're highly likely only being placed in medium or heavy industrial zones. Opposing a data center despite zoning allowance is being a NIMBY. It's saying that community members should have veto rights over what gets built in their community, despite zoning and code which restricts what can be built.
  - ianm218 6mo ago
    Why not throw almost all zoning regulations out besides some designations for what areas can be used for industrial uses? The status quo of zoning basically just stops people from living and working where they want to.
- ofjcihen 6mo ago
  I can’t imagine an argument for doing…not cautious zoning modifications? Zoning modifications seems like something you’d want to think about no matter what.

tptacek 6mo ago

"Cautious" modifications to zoning is a NIMBY argument, just for what it's worth.

switchbak 6mo ago
That's such an oversimplified thing to say. And how much work are those quotes doing?
- tptacek 6mo ago
  I don't agree, and none.
georgemcbay 6mo ago
Zoning is currently too restrictive in the US. I believe it should be less so. "Cautious" as I mean it exists in the space between where we are now and just throwing zoning regulations out entirely and YOLOing it. I support significant changes, but I don't support just eliminating all regulations with no replacements and expecting "the market" to do the right thing. IMO we'd be trading one problem with another likely much more destructive one. The NIMBY argument is generally that the current zoning system is fine (and then hiding behind it to support their NIMBY-ism).
- Karrot_Kream 6mo ago
  This kind of data center opposition is part of the NIMBY playbook though. A core part of NIMBY positions is that the built environment should be purely discretionary; every change to the neighborhood should have sufficient community approval to go forward. The idea being that current residents should have veto rights over what is built in their community. Highly restrictive zoning just happens to be the method by which this land use philosophy is exercised. Regular zoning in most of the US already covers data centers. They're highly likely only being placed in medium or heavy industrial zones. Opposing a data center despite zoning allowance is being a NIMBY. It's saying that community members should have veto rights over what gets built in their community, despite zoning and code which restricts what can be built.
- ianm218 6mo ago
  Why not throw almost all zoning regulations out besides some designations for what areas can be used for industrial uses? The status quo of zoning basically just stops people from living and working where they want to.
ofjcihen 6mo ago
I can’t imagine an argument for doing…not cautious zoning modifications? Zoning modifications seems like something you’d want to think about no matter what.