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Full-Text Articles in Law
Smart Growth-Oriented Density And Parking Regulations, Michael Lewyn
Smart Growth-Oriented Density And Parking Regulations, Michael Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
Many articles have been written about pro-sprawl land use regulation, such as minimum parking requirements. This speech, by contrast, focuses on the frequency of land use regulation designed to increase walkability- in particular, minimum density requirements and maximum parking requirements. I conclude that the first type of regulation is quite rare and usually very lenient. The second type of regulation is more frequent; however, the impact of maximum parking requirements is not yet clear.
Against The Neighborhood Veto, Michael Lewyn
Against The Neighborhood Veto, Michael Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
American zoning often gives neighborhoods elective veto power over nearby real estate development. This “neighborhood veto” sometimes artificially reduces housing supply and urban density, thus making housing more expensive and making American cities more dependent on automobiles. This article criticizes the common arguments that neighborhood activists use to restrict development.
Is An Apartment A Nuisance?, Michael Lewyn
Is An Apartment A Nuisance?, Michael Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
In an ongoing Texas lawsuit, some homeowners allege that a nearby apartment building will constitute a nuisance. This article asserts that courts should generally reject nuisance claims against multifamily housing, based on the public interest in favor of increased housing supply and infill development.
The (Somewhat) False Hope Of Comprehensive Planning, Michael Lewyn
The (Somewhat) False Hope Of Comprehensive Planning, Michael Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
Some commentators equate municipal comprehensive plans with "smart" growth (that is, development that considers the needs of nondrivers as well as the needs of automobiles). However, comprehensive planning. although desirable, is neither necessary nor sufficient for smart growth. Plans are not necessary because zoning reforms can achieve the same smart growth objectives as plans, and are not sufficient because many comprehensive plans support sprawl rather than smart growth.
Suburban Sprawl: Weaker But Still Alive, Michael Lewyn
Suburban Sprawl: Weaker But Still Alive, Michael Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
Review of The End of the Suburbs, by Leigh Gallagher.
How Real Is Gentrification?, Michael Lewyn
How Real Is Gentrification?, Michael Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
Some commentators argue that gentrification is turning many cities into a playground for the rich. This article rejects that view, pointing out that even relatively affluent cities are still poorer than the average suburb.
The (Somewhat) False Hope Of Comprehensive Planning, Michael Lewyn
The (Somewhat) False Hope Of Comprehensive Planning, Michael Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
Comprehensive planning at the municipal level, although useful in a variety of ways, is neither necessary nor sufficient to promote "smart" (that is, pedestrian and transit-oriented) growth. Comprehensive plans can be used to support sprawl as easily as to support smart growth, while smart growth may be promoted effectively through zoning reform or statewide legislation as well as through local planning.
How Comprehensive Planning Makes Suburbia More Sprawling, Michael Lewyn
How Comprehensive Planning Makes Suburbia More Sprawling, Michael Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
Many commentators associate comprehensive land use planning with smart growth- but in fact, municipal plans can be used to further sprawl as well as smart growth.
The Puzzling Persistence Of Horizontal Privity, Michael Lewyn
The Puzzling Persistence Of Horizontal Privity, Michael Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
A discussion of the horizontal privity doctrine. Under this doctrine, restrictive covenants are binding upon future grantees only if the original parties to the covenant share some property interest outside the covenant- for example, if they are grantor and grantee of the same land, or if they are landlord and tenant. Although the doctrine has been often criticized by scholars, no recent court has rejected the privity requirement.
Why Leave It To The Liberals? Conservative Views On Smart Growth, Michael E. Lewyn
Why Leave It To The Liberals? Conservative Views On Smart Growth, Michael E. Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
Part of panel discussion on "Why Leave It To The Liberals? Conservative Views on Smart Growth"
Plans Are Not Enough, Michael Lewyn
Plans Are Not Enough, Michael Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
Some commentators see comprehensive municipal plans as a remedy for suburban sprawl. But in fact, a plan can be used to promote sprawl as well as to prevent sprawl.
Land Use Regulation: It Just Gets Worse, Michael Lewyn
Land Use Regulation: It Just Gets Worse, Michael Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
Some commentators treat suburban sprawl (by which I mean automobile-dependent land development) as the result of the free market at work. This article reviews City Rules, by urban planning professor Emily Talen. In this book, Talen shows not only how zoning and similar land use regulations generate automobile-dependent suburban sprawl, but also how these regulations have become stricter, more pro-sprawl, and more complex over time. Talen proposes to reform these regulations through municipal codes that promote more walkable, less automobile-dependent development.
What Would Coase Do? (About Parking Regulation), Michael E. Lewyn
What Would Coase Do? (About Parking Regulation), Michael E. Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
American municipalities typically require landowners to provide visitors and guests with ample amounts of parking, in order to prevent externalities such as cruising (drivers wasting gasoline and polluting the air while searching for scarce parking). However, minimum parking requirements may create social harms that outweigh this benefit. By artificially increasing the supply of parking, minimum parking requirements effectively subsidize driving, thus increasing rather than decreasing pollution and congestion.
Five Myths About Sprawl , Michael E Lewyn
Five Myths About Sprawl , Michael E Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
In Sprawl: A Compact History, Robert Bruegmann, an art historian, has painted a superficially convincing case for the status quo, asserting that sprawl is “a natural result of affluence that occurs in all urbanized societies.” Bruegmann's book has generated glowing media publicity. This article suggests that Bruegmann overestimates the universality of sprawl, by overlooking the differences between pedestrian-friendly cities with some sprawling development and cities in which automobile-dependent sprawl is the only choice available to most consumers. In addition, Bruegmann understates the harmful social effects of sprawl, especially the effect of automobile-dependent development upon non-drivers. Bruegmann also consistently underestimates the …
New Urbanist Zoning For Dummies, Michael E Lewyn
New Urbanist Zoning For Dummies, Michael E Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
This article compares the SmartCode (a model New Urbanist zoning code) to conventional pro-sprawl zoning codes, and concludes that in some respects, the SmartCode is actually more respectful of property rights than is conventional zoning.
Sprawl, Growth Boundaries And The Rehnquist Court , Michael E Lewyn
Sprawl, Growth Boundaries And The Rehnquist Court , Michael E Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
This article addresses the constitutionality and wisdom of Oregon's urban growth boundary (UGB) program. The article concludes that the program is constitutional under current precedent, and that (contrary to claims made by UGB critics) there is little evidence that the UGB has caused Oregon's runup in housing prices. On the other hand, UGB supporters may have exaggerated the UGB's positive environmental results.