4.1.4 Using Land Use Policy to Diminish Vehicle Miles Traveled

LPDD Recommendation: “Localities should alter or eliminate sprawl-inducing zoning provisions, such as minimum lot and house sizes, setback requirements, and the strict separation of certain land uses. Localities should also review parking requirements that subsidize driving by mandating excessive amounts of free parking.”

LPDD Recommendation: “Localities should adopt measures to promote infill development, renovation of existing buildings, and the redevelopment of declining or abandoned commercial areas. These measures include offering loans, rehabilitation tax credits, and expedited approval processes, revamping zoning and building code requirements, and investing in infrastructure.”

LPDD Recommendation: “Federal and state laws should be revised to foster infill, renovation, and redevelopment through measures such as rehabilitation tax credits, funding technical assistance, and by directing infrastructure spending to existing communities.”

LPDD Recommendation: “Localities should increase permissible density, streamline project approval, and reduce parking requirements for transit-oriented development.”

Los Angeles’ Transit-Oriented Districts

Los Angeles’ Code of Ordinances encourages affordable housing within transit-oriented districts by providing developers with height, density, and parking flexibility.

Chicago Transit-Serving Zoning Incentives

Encourages developments within a specified radius of a transit hub by offering developers incentives, including the allowance of fewer parking spaces than the typical minimum and an increase in the permitted floor area ratio. 

Wheat Ride CO Mixed-Use Zoning

Establishes a mixed-use commercial zone district, designed to encourage medium to high density mixed use development, and a mixed-use neighborhood district, designed to encourage medium density mixed use development.

Madison’s Mixed-Use Zoning

Madison’s Code of Ordinances establishes several mixed-use districts, including a “limited mixed-use district” that allows for particularly small scale commercial development in residential areas.

El Paso Live-Work Flex Units Zoning

Allows live-work flex units divided into two categories: restricted-only units for artisans or professionals with no more than one employee and two customers at any time; and open-permits any office or commercial use allowed in the base code.