Zoning Game: Municipal Practices and Policies

by Richard F. Babcock

Zoning Municipal Practices and Policies by Richard F. Babcock (Author) .

Genres: Urban Planning

Paperback

First published June 1, 1966

Reviews

[Frank Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it was published back in 1966, this book, funded in part by the Ford Foundation, was the first one to take a serious look at zoning practices in the decades since they had become established. As befits such a subject, however, the books breezy and anecdotal, since the author admits there is little in the way of system to define American zoning practices and almost no concrete data to base them upon. The book thus first starts then with "the players," the official, the layman, the planner, the judge and so on, and only then gets to "the rules" which determine who gets what.

As the author shows, the zoning game was one played by people either without power or interest in the outcome or without knowledge about the subject. In his era, and to some extent today, a planning commission or a board of zoning adjustments had control over most requests for zoning changes, but it was filled with laypeople with no legal or other training, and sometimes by government officials who had to answer to political demands. One developer said "the planning commission is the worst device ever invented by man," and claimed to prefer just a straight political body that at least had some accountability. The professional planner was often just a consultant who was easily overridden by lay-members or politicians, while lawyers had little time or big money to fight zoning cases, and judges were forthrightly bored by them (In both Illinois and New Jersey the Supreme Courts in the 1960s said they would no longer examine most zoning cases.) The results of the conflict of these odd players was a mismash of rules, which amounted to, as the author says, lots of "techniques" but precious few "principles" to judge them by.

The most surprising thing about this book is the author's prescience on the future course of zoning reform. On the last page he notes that "The path of reform...leads to the bench before it comes from the legislature" and notes a dissent from Justice Frederick Hall of New Jersey, who argues that "exclusionary practices" of single-family zones will have to give way to metropolitan considerations. He also notes that the federal government has already begun to attach conditions on grants requiring metropolitan planning, such as in the 1965 Transportation Act. In fact, just a few years later, New Jersey's court in Mount Laurel would demand integrated zoning of apartments, and the federal and state governments would attach ever more planning requirements to their grants. While the author would be disappointed at how little these accomplished, he was correct in perceiving the reforms.

Despite coming away from it with few clear principles, this is the best single book you will read about zoning. Although the author admits cannot clarify all its angles, at least he gives one an incisive look at the game.

[Joe Molnar · Rating 3 out of 5]

An outdated if not unhelpful review of the history of zoning from inception to the 1960s. Also is one of the few books that looks at the various players of the zoning field - the planner, neighbors, attorneys, developer etc. - and it was nice to see zoning bisected the way it actually is practiced. The most disappointing part of the book is the realization that nothing has substantially changed since the 1960s in the field of zoning as its practiced. The author's prediction of more regional zoning exercises has not materialized.

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I agree with some of Babcock's critiques of zoning practice, I don't think this is a good book to read.

This book best serves as a time capsule of zoning thought in the mid-1960s. I don't think it's a good source for education, entertainment, or lucidity on zoning.

[Philip S · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a VERY dated book about the state of zoning in the late 1960s. Babcock examines the roles of the players in the zoning game and their motivations. He makes a very critical examination of the use of zoning, as both a tool to preserve property values and as a community planning tool. His greatest objection to zoning is that, being applied through parochial municipalities, it is neither uniform in application nor suitable for addressing regional issues. In fact, regional problems are exacerbated through it's parochial application as each municipality races to wall itself off from NIMBYs. He is critical of the judiciary for not weighing in to correct these dysfunctions and for not leading state legislatures in reform. His primary recommendation is for each state to establish a "super zoning court of appeals" to provide more uniformity and regional perspective. MANY of his concerns have been, or are being addressed since this book was written, and maybe in some part, because if it!

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The dynamics behind our ingra structure explored