Zoning Hacks for Missing Middle Housing
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Learning Outcomes
- Understand how standards such as minimum lot sizes, setbacks, and parking requirements impact the creation of missing middle housing.
- Examine the ideal zoning district development standards for missing middle housing.
- Learn techniques to effectively communicate the need for housing choices in a community by reframing the conversation away from density and other loaded terms.
More Course Details
Most zoning codes have many — but easy-to-target — barriers for the construction of missing middle housing types such as duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, and mansion apartments.
Learn targeted and tested hacks for zoning that will effectively remove barriers for these diverse housing choices in your community without a complete zoning code update:
- Are your densities high enough?
- Are your minimum lot sizes small enough?
- Are existing missing middle types conforming?
- Why do most multifamily zoning districts fall short in delivering these types?
- Where should these types be allowed?
Speakers discuss case studies from across the country, from places as diverse as Kauai County, Hawaii; Buena Vista, Colorado; Cincinnati; Greensboro, North Carolina; and Portland, Oregon.
Over the last two years, Portland has rewritten its zoning codes for multi-dwelling and single-dwelling development. One motivation is to increase housing supply and the range of housing choice by creating more opportunities for missing middle housing. Glean lessons and observations about the public response to and politics of these changes.