Zoning for Increased Density

Zoning can be an important tool for communities to use in order to steer development toward existing downtowns and commercial centers. One of the benefits of zoning is that it makes it attractive for developers to want to site a project in a particular area due to the level of certainty that the community will accept the project because it is in conformance with its zoning.

Traditional zoning codes, with their restrictive set back requirements and limited allowable uses (for example, in second stories of buildings), often discourage dense development in central business districts. Local governments can revise standard zoning in business districts to allow for denser development and a mix of land uses. Zoning which includes minimum height requirements for new buildings can encourage denser development and a more cohesive look in the building heights and façades along the main street and within the surrounding downtown area.