Pretextual planning is bad, per Strong Towns

[plam]

We've talked about this before, and ijmorlan in particular keeps on asking why we have zoning at all, really. Here's some more context about pretextual planning:

https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2021...everywhere

It's the whole thing where cities know what they really want and exchange density bonusing for it, as opposed to just straight out making the thing mandatory.

[ijmorlan]

We've talked about this before, and ijmorlan in particular keeps on asking why we have zoning at all, really. Here's some more context about pretextual planning:

https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2021...everywhere

It's the whole thing where cities know what they really want and exchange density bonusing for it, as opposed to just straight out making the thing mandatory.

Thanks for that link! A fascinating article. The comment about shutting out small developers is especially on point. Look at Northdale: instead of individual property owners gradually densifying, things got stuck at the maximum that could be crammed into the existing buildings; then when the rules finally came to a partial recognition of reality, almost the whole neighbourhood has been replaced over just a few years.

Just to be clear, I think we need some zoning — just not anywhere near as much as we actually have.

[fishfinder123]

Pretextual planning is like the ancient precursor to the current in-vogue public policy darling "nudging". It is ahistorical and relies on the notion that somehow city hall employees have some clairvoyant ability to see into the future and predict the run on effects of their arbitrary requirements.

I think the only good zoning is preventing ecologically harmful industries in dense areas. Other than that I'd be happy if it was completely scrapped