It's a fact. The zoning problem you're struggling with today has probably already been solved by somebody else. But how can you find out what's working without spending a lot of your valuable time?

Zoning Practice isn't just an interesting read. It's a toolbox chock full of information geared to inform and inspire, and to implement by planners for the purpose of smarter land-use practice.

Current Issues

March 2010

Zoning for Urban Agriculture

As sustainability has moved up the municipal agenda, cities have begun to take an interest in urban agriculture as a way to promote health, to support economic and community development, and to improve the urban environment. This article places urban agriculture in a historical context, examines regulatory approaches, and makes recommendations for planning and zoning practice.

Author Nina Mukherji received her master's degree in conservation biology and sustainable development from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her thesis was titled, The Promise and the Pitfalls of Municipal Policy for Urban Agriculture. Her co-author, Alfonso Morales, is assistant professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is the co­editor of openair.org and the author of numerous food system and community economic development publications.

February 2010

Town House Standards

Town houses have historically played an important role in cities and are an attractive option for many suburbs. This issue takes a look at some of the regulatory and design problems that prompted Chicago to add special zoning provisions to address town house development and concludes with a short analysis of how well these provisions have stood the test of time.

Authors Mary Fishman and Tom Smith are former planners for the City of Chicago. Fishman has worked for 25 years in the fields of architecture and urban design. Since 1991, Smith has taught land-use planning and zoning in the graduate school of urban planning at the University of Illinois in Chicago.