This is "Permitted With Conditions"

A new blog, newsletter, and occassional podcast from David Toyer, president of Toyer Strategic Advisors and a 20+ year veteran in land use that specializes in zoning and economic development.

Zoning is the practice land use planning that involves dividing areas into a set of zones that each have differing regulations governing the development and use of land in that area.

Zoning impacts how and where we live, work, play, invest, travel, etc. Everything that gets built and every use that occupies the land or a building is permitted and controlled by zoning. But, zoning is rarely discussed in comparison to its enormous affect on our daily lives. Yet when it is the topic of discussion, it’s often wildly controversial and involves finger pointing and accusations. Why?

Because, for example, zoning dictates the length of your commute by establishing where the suburbs and job centers get located, it imposes conditions on how many trees you must have and under what circumstances you can cut them down, it regulates how close the house next door can be to your fence, and it controls whether the preschool down the street can also be a daycare.

As complex as zoning may be, it’s further complicated by how decisions are made. Some zoning decisions may be granted by a planning director, but others are approved by a planning commission or a city council - the latter of these often ensures that the decision is as much (or more) political as it is practical.

Join me as I share insights and stories from more than 20 years of my experiences. And don’t be afraid to ask questions along the way.