The Myth of Local Control | Planetizen Blogs

One common argument against statewide zoning reform is that local control of zoning is a venerable democratic norm. But in fact, state government often controls local land use in a variety of ways. In recent years, some state governments have sought to reform local zoning by limiting localities’ ability to exclude new housing. One of the most common arguments against such reform is that local control of zoning is so well-established as to be a democratic norm. For example, Aaron Renn writes that banning single-family zoning involves a “shift from local to state control… [that] would completely upend this country’s traditional approach to land use.” (1) But in fact, state government already interferes with local control in a variety of ways, especially in regulation-addicted states like New York. For example: *The state caps floor-area ratio at 12. This means that a landowner cannot build anything with over twelve stories, unless it a) allows some floor area to go unused or b) purchases development rights from other landowners or otherwise takes advantage of arcane zoning loopholes. This law seems to be limited to New York City. Because car pollution is reduced when people are allowed to build housing and offices in
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