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Full-Text Articles in Urban Studies and Planning
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.
No Parking Anytime: The Legality And Wisdom Of Maximum Parking And Minimum Density Requirements, Michael Lewyn, Judd Schechtman
No Parking Anytime: The Legality And Wisdom Of Maximum Parking And Minimum Density Requirements, Michael Lewyn, Judd Schechtman
Michael E Lewyn
This article focuses on two aspects of smart growth policy that have thus far received little attention: maximum parking and minimum density requirements. To ascertain the frequency of such regulations, we examine the zoning regulations of twenty-four mid-sized cities, defined as those with populations between 500,000 and one million residents. The article concludes that the first type of regulation is somewhat common, but is usually restricted to certain types of land uses or sections of a city. Minimum density requirements, by contrast, are quite rare and quite lenient. Because these types of regulations have received little scholarly attention and are …
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.
The False Hope Of Comprehensive Planning, Michael Lewyn
The False Hope Of Comprehensive Planning, Michael Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
Some commentators on sprawl and smart growth speak of municipal comprehensive plans and sprawl as polar opposites: but in fact, a comprehensive plan can be used to further auto-oriented sprawl just as easily as it can be used to encourage more pedestrian-friendly development. This speech uses parts of Jacksonville, Florida's plan as examples of pro-sprawl planning.
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.
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.
Sprawl In Europe And America, Michael E. Lewyn
Sprawl In Europe And America, Michael E. Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
Rebuts the "Inevitability Theory of Sprawl"- the common argument that anti-sprawl policies would be futile in the United States because sprawl has grown even in Europe. Although Europeans are far more likely to travel on foot, bike or public transit than Americans, some commentators argue that these realities are irrelevant because European cities are trending towards sprawl- that is, that Europeans are far more likely to live in suburbs and drive to work than they once did.
This article argues that the European "trend to sprawl" is in the process of reversing itself. Over the past decade, some European cities …
Why Pedestrian-Friendly Street Design Is Not Negligent, Michael E. Lewyn
Why Pedestrian-Friendly Street Design Is Not Negligent, Michael E. Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
American streets are typically designed for fast automobile traffic. As a result, those streets are often dangerous for pedestrians.
In part, the anti-pedestrian design of American streets is a result of transportation planners' perceptions of American tort law. In negligent street design cases, courts and juries sometimes rely upon guidelines set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), a national association of government transportation officials. Because AASHTO's street-design rules have historically favored wide streets built to accommodate high-speed traffic, planners sometimes assume that in order to avoid liability, they must do the same.
The purpose of …
Watts My Line? Energy Generation Siting Strategies For Urban Areas, Caleb W. Christopher
Watts My Line? Energy Generation Siting Strategies For Urban Areas, Caleb W. Christopher
Caleb W Christopher
The growth of urban areas has historically been both constrained and encouraged by energy and related infrastructure. Varying degrees of regulation have been sought to respond to compelling public safety needs: more recently, modern environmental law system was derived from public conflicts over siting of an energy plant. While the greater urban density offers reduced per-capita energy consumption rates, contemporary urban revitalization has brought a greater amount of people into closer contact with their energy sources. The unique geography, and increased securities needs, of urban areas demand both reliability and local proximity in energy source production. Urban siting issues will …
Takings Formalism And Regulatory Formulas: Exactions And The Consequences Of Clarity, Mark Fenster
Takings Formalism And Regulatory Formulas: Exactions And The Consequences Of Clarity, Mark Fenster
Mark Fenster
How City Hall Causes Sprawl - A Case Study, Michael E Lewyn
How City Hall Causes Sprawl - A Case Study, Michael E Lewyn
Michael E Lewyn
A book review addressing the city of Atlanta's pro-sprawl transportation, zoning and urban renewal policies.
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.