The Sightline Institute tackles what may be "our most acute urban public policy challenge."
Seattle's 2015 Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda caused something of a stir with its claim that exclusionary zoning is rooted in racism and classism, and no less complicit in those systems today.
Dan Bertolet, a senior researcher at the Sightline Institute, says that should have been an unremarkable statement. He offers a brief history of exclusionary zoning practices—like single-family zoning or strict height and density limits—and traces their effects on cities and communities in the United States.
Drawing on research from Harvard, the Brookings Institution, the White House, and more, the article summarizes the harm done by exclusionary zoning in eight related points. Among them:
- Tight regulations radically inflate housing costs
- Exclusionary zoning increases homelessness
- Housing restrictions make everyone poorer
The piece is part of Sightline's series Legalizing Inexpensive Housing.
FULL STORY: Exclusionary Zoning Robs Cities of Their Best Qualities

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

Test News Post 1
This is a summary

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service