Beyond the Density Standard
Zoning Practice — November 2012
By Norman Wright, AICP
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Density requirements are a well-intentioned idea with unintended consequences. Fortunately, there are better solutions available. For decades, cities have used density as one of the principal means for regulating the built environment.
In virtually every instance, from rote limits such as units per acre to more elaborate approaches such as floor area ratio, these standards have dictated much more than just the amount of development that can occur on a given acre of land. And for all the attention that has been directed toward land-use requirements, the use of density standards has largely gone unquestioned in general zoning practice.
This issue of Zoning Practice explains how zoning techniques rooted in the form and physical character of development can address community concerns about compatibility better than simple density limits.
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About the Author
Norman Wright, AICP
Norman Wright, AICP, is the founder of Parameter, a design and analytics consultancy that specializes in creating plans, policies, and best practices for local government. Prior to this, he was a local government executive leading planning, economic development, and community development efforts in Oregon, Colorado, Tennessee, and South Carolina. His teams have delivered award-winning work recognized by the American Planning Association and Urban Land Institute. He holds a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Clemson University.