Tactical Urbanism v2: Dynamic Land Use Regulation and Partnership Tools Regenerating First Suburbs

Abstract

How should land use regulators respond when their communities are economically deprived?

Land use regulation typically is viewed as passive; projects proceed when criteria established by ordinances are satisfied, but are delayed or scuttled when parameters of building or zoning codes are unmet. Insufficient attention is directed by local governments to the economic impacts of any such events. The current employment and productivity perils of inner-ring suburbs, lately-dismissed 'first outskirts’ of metropolitan areas, beg the question if expanding economic opportunity for every community citizen must dominate conversations among zoning administrations. Too many first suburbs are in decline, their citizens dismayed about their futures and helpless without government intervention. This paper describes how their local administrations, partnering with developers and citizens, must refocus efforts to revitalize inner-ring neighborhoods physically while growing job opportunities. Deploying familiar and novel land use regulation and related collaborative strategies is one answer calculated to improve the inner city. The paper addresses how administrators of planning regimes, using dynamic zoning tools, can catalyze jobs creation without sacrificing land use’s primary goal--keeping communities livable and peaceful places.

Keywords: Land Use law, distribution centers, fulfillment centers, first suburbs, inner ring suburbs, first tier suburbs, community benefits agreements, zoning, general plan, master plan

JEL Classification: O10, O18, O21, O33, O38, K11, L92, J60