Steve Videtich said:
Civilized said:
Steve Videtich said:
hokiewolf said:
PackBacker07 said:
While you guys are fixing the nation's problems yelling into your own tinfoil vortex, can you ask Q how we fix rent inflation as well? We're on a scary track there, much worse than paying 8% more for your basement Funyuns.
Create more inventory, eliminate single family home zoning.
So everyone should live in high density housing?
Density and land use are two different issues.
You're talking about density, hokie is talking about land use.
ETA: One of the major development challenges nationwide is that vast swaths of cities and suburbs are in zoning classifications that don't allow attached housing types.
Relatedly, Raleigh just began allowing (or more accurately for R-6, allowing again) townhomes to be built in R-4 and R-6 zoning districts. As a result, tens of thousands of acres of land in the greater Raleigh area are now developable with attached housing types without a rezoning. This type of zoning change is a step in the right direction to help correct a grossly undersupplied market.
OK, but is it still not higher density housing?
No. Higher density housing still requires a rezoning.
Here's an example-
In Raleigh, R-4 means "4 units to an acre" density AND the City specifies housing types that can go on R-4 (land use). Until their recent zoning change, townhomes were precluded from being built on land zoned R-4.
Now, Raleigh allows townhomes (attached housing) on R-4 so on a 1-acre property you can either build 4 single family homes or four townhomes. The density (4 units to the acre) is the same either way. The modified land use provision doesn't change the allowable density on the site.
What it does do is allow for more effective density because there are many sites that may meet a minimum size threshold (in this case, being able to build 4 units on one acre of land) but due to other site characteristics (stream buffers, parcel shape, minimum lot road frontage requirements, setbacks, etc.) you can't fit four single family homes with conforming lots on them. Because townhome lots are so much smaller, developers have more site planning flexibility and may be able to fit four townhomes on the site.
Also from an affordable housing perspective, it's easier to bring townhomes to market at lower price points given their construction efficiencies. Opening up allowable multi-family land uses on previously restricted zoning classifications is a relatively low-impact way of encouraging more achievable price points in private development.