Want some control over Houston’s future growth? Maybe try zoning. – Houston Public Media

Gail Delaughter

Houston, famously, is the only major U.S. city without zoning. So, is it ironic, or a hint, or something else that motivated attorney, architect, and Houston native Sara Bronin to write a book about zoning, how it shapes other cities, and how it could be a force for good?

In the audio above, Houston Matters host Craig Cohen talks with Bronin about her new book, Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World.

Bronin frames the book’s goal as lifting the shroud of mystery over zoning code and how it shapes our cities. She explains how such laws, when worded, executed, and interpreted properly, can help cities develop responsibly and head off some of the problems Houston has experienced, including flooding, areas of limited walkability, and the unwanted proximity of residential areas to business and industry not deemed ideal for public health.

She notes success stories like Tucson, Ariz., where zoning codes mitigate the impacts of climate change and help to “drought-proof” neighborhoods. She also mentions efforts in Hartford, Conn., where she was chair of the Department of Planning and Development and was tasked with overhauling the city’s outdated zoning code.

And Bronin writes how not having proper zoning can lead to restrictive covenants, can create racial inequalities, can prioritize cars over people, and can enable ecological harm.