Derick Berlage, Chief of Countywide Planning Division, Prince George’s Planning Department presented “Should Zoning Be Simple?” at the American Planning Association's 2018 National Planning Conference on Saturday, April 21, 2018, in New Orleans, LA. See presentation given. 

Should Zoning Be Simple?

• Three underlying reasons for the complexity of many contemporary zoning codes
• Three opportunities to simplify substantive and procedural zoning provisions
• Three reasons why simple zoning isn’t necessarily better zoning

One of the most common critiques of zoning is that it’s too complicated. Some commentators blame a gluttonous approach to zoning reform, wherein each new idea was added with little concern for page count or administrative efficiency. Others blame a system addicted to discretionary approvals, which necessitates hundreds of pages of procedural standards to avoid the appearance of [BC1] illegal contract zoning.

Few argue with the basic premise that complex zoning standards and procedures favor deep-pocketed developers operating at a grand, long-term scale. But there is no consensus about how to put zoning “on a diet.” In this panel discussion, public- and private-sector zoning experts weighed in on key tensions underlying efforts to simplify zoning. The final portion of the session was devoted to answering questions from attendees.

Find out more at https://www.planning.org/events/nationalconferenceactivity/9140462/