Find Reports and Papers

Please feel free to use Older Dominion Partnership's resources under the terms of this site, and contact us with feedback and suggestions, and/or submit a study.

For a complete listing of studies and reports click here, or search by topic, keyword and/or date:

Housing » Zoning Policies

Why It's Important

Zoning policies are the primary tool for local planning. Every human activity has a zone of its own. Zoning plays a large role in how non-institutional care is provided, for example, policies that allow single-family dwellings to be zoned such that an apartment can be built on site allow for flexibility in care models.

See Data By: Richmond MSA | Virginia | National

How Richmond Is Doing

Content coming.

How Virginia Is Doing

Content coming.

How the U.S. Is Doing

Zoning and other conventional land development codes control the physical form of communities. They classify land uses and regulate buildings and adjoining physical space through the use of setbacks, height limits, floor area ratios (FARs), and regulations covering site coverage, density, and parking. A growing number of planners, architects, developers, and local government officials have become disenchanted with existing zoning ordinances and land development codes. They contend that such rules and policies have encouraged sprawling, automobile-reliant development patterns. Proponents of smart growth and new urbanism suggest that changes to these land use codes can serve as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization, environmental protection, and economic vitality. In addition, a growing number of public health experts view the reform of planning and zoning policies and practices as opportunities to improve the built environment and increase physical activity among a largely sedentary population by promoting healthier communities. (ICMA SCHILLING 2009)

Land use and other planning processes can significantly impact the ability of an older adult to age successfully in their home and community. Communities need to broadly re-examine existing planning policies to reflect the needs of an aging population and to develop strategies to engage older adults to be actively engaged in these processes. These recommendations offer cities and counties concrete steps they can take to begin preparing for the aging of the Baby Boomers. (N4A MATURING OF AMERICA 2006)

Data & Information Sources

Aging in Place Technical Assistance

http://www.aginginplaceinitiative.org/storage/aipi/documents/aging_in_place_technical_assistance_final.pdf

Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics

http://www.agingstats.gov/agingstatsdotnet/main_site/default.aspx

International City/County Management Association, Website, Schilling, Creating a Regulatory Blueprint for Healthy Community Design, 2009
http://icma.org/main/ld.asp?ldid=19338&hsid=1&tpid=31&t=0

N4A, The Maturing of America, 2006

http://www.aginginplaceinitiative.org/storage/aipi/documents/maturing_of_america_reformatted_for_printing.pdf

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/