Zoning is a critical tool for getting the benefits of growth while minimizing growing pains. But in far too many communities, zoning is used to benefit specific property owners or special interests at the expense of overall quality of life.
If you believe that a proposed zoning amendment, rezoning, or other zoning-related action threatens your quality of life then contact CEDS at 1-800-773-4571 or Help@ceds.org. Our advice is available free of charge to citizens seeking to preserve a neighborhood or the environment from flawed zoning decisions.
In Chapter 35 of our free 300-page book How To Win Land Development Issues we explain how to find the quickest, most effective strategy for resolving your zoning-related concerns. But if time is short then consider a CEDS Initial Strategy Analysis. We can also help you to raise the funds needed to hire a good zoning attorney and the other professionals needed to implement the strategy quickly. Additionally, we have a nationwide network of more than 135 attorneys who specialize in helping citizens with zoning and other land use issues.
Following is our view of what zoning should be.
Zoning is the process by which the residents of a community decide (through their local elected officials) which uses are suitable for each parcel of land within the community. When done well, zoning helps to achieve the following goals:
to name just some of the more important goals of zoning.
Good planning is the key to designing a set of zoning regulations (also known as zoning ordinances) and zoning maps which will achieve these goals. At a minimum, every local jurisdiction should have a comprehensive plan setting forth the goals the community wishes to achieve as the area grows and the objectives essential to achieving these goals. The plan must be prepared through a process which encourages maximum participation by all community members and provides residents with the background information needed to understand how each alternative will affect their interests. Zoning regulations, zoning ordinances, and zoning maps provide the means to implement the goals set forth in the comprehensive plan.
CEDS exists solely to help citizens win zoning, land development and environmental issues. Because of this specialization, we can pull together a top-notch team of leading experts, including a good zoning attorney practicing in your area, to quickly analyze your situation and develop the easiest, least expensive strategy for success. Our strategies employ an aggressive approach on multiple fronts: legal, technical, and political. Because of this unique approach our clients win 90% of their cases vs. the much lower success rate typical of more conventional campaign strategies. And our victories come at a fraction of the cost.
Our approach to winning zoning, land use and environmental cases is described in a 300-page book which can be downloaded free by clicking on the following title: How To Win Land Development Issues: A Citizens Guide To Preserving & Enhancing Quality of Life in Developing Areas