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residents. This will involve reconsidering land use patterns, particularly in suburban areas, where the recovery in the hous- ing market is expected to lag. Having looked at the most dis- tressed areas in your communi- ty, consider what changes in land use may encourage revital- ization. 1. Find areas that can be rezoned to a higher density. This can help reduce construction and energy costs for future development. If your code requires a minimum house size, perhaps that requirement can be eliminated or modified to pro- vide more flexibility. Higher density can also help promote the use of transit. 2. Allow granny flats or accessory units. These units can support extended families or create a rentable space for homeowners. Conversely, if younger fami- lies are likely to repopulate the area, are facilities available to meet their needs? Are there suf- ficient recreational areas and locations for day care centers? 5. Identify land that can be acquired or traded that will create greenways and usable open space. In many subdivisions, the only open spaces are “left over” pieces of land. The strategic acquisition of some lots can cre- ate connected open space that forms a greenway or neighbor- hood park to enhance the neigh- borhood’s quality of life. 6. Eliminate barriers to rede- velopment. Consider adopting tools that will allow for reinvest- ment in existing properties. This might include more relaxed approaches to non-conforming uses or techniques to allow the redevelopment of properties that are constrained by current 3. Make sure home occupa- tions are allowed and appropriate- ly regulated.While it is important to protect neighbor- hoods from the potentially intrusive impacts of businesses operated from a home, there are ways to adequately protect neighbors while allowing for home based businesses. 4. See that community plans encourage the provision of ser- vices to support the neighborhood. If it is desirable to encourage older residents to retire and stay in place, evaluate whether your codes allow uses that will sup- port that population. Are there plans to provide the necessary services and infrastructure (e.g., is there adequate street lighting and signage)? Do you allow for nursing homes and assisted liv- ing facilities? Does your trans- portation plan address the mobility needs of seniors? 15 PLANNING COMMISSIONERS JOURNAL / NUMBER 78 / SPRING 2010 zoning standards.2 While we don’t know exactly how and when the current economic crisis will end, we do know that those communities that have planned for the future will be in the best position to recover and provide their resi- dents with the choices they want. ◆ Wendy Grey, AICP, is principal of Wendy Grey Land Use Planning LLC. Prior to establishing her own firm in 2002, Grey spent 20 years in the public sector dealing with development and growth issues in Florida, including 10 years as Planning Director for Tallahassee and Leon County. couples is energy efficiency. According to the Builder /Ameri- can Lives study, any where from 80 to 95 percent of respondents now see energy-saving HVAC systems, windows, lighting, and water fixtures as “very impor- tant” or “essential” to their homes. This makes one thing cer- tain: the market for green ener- gy-efficient homes is going to grow. What is more, a majority of those polled said they would be willing to pay between $2,000 and $5,000 more to include an energy-saving feature in their home, so long as they could recoup their investment in a few years. The current recession is a time to rethink growth and to redesign housing to meet the diverse needs of America’s grow- ing population. In the future, there is likely to be a greater variety of housing types designed for different buyer seg- ments. Smaller, greener options are likely to grow in popularity as are infill housing options. Even in the suburbs, walka- bility and a greater variety of housing products will likely become the norm. One thing all the surveys make clear: the old one-size-fits-all model no longer works. ◆ Edward T. McMahon is a Senior Resident Fellow at the Urban Land Institute. He has also authored more than 20 articles for the Planning Commissioners Journal. The above is excerpted from McMahon’s “How Will Housing Evolve,” in the Nov./Dec. 2009 issue of Urban Land. Taking a Closer Look Reprint Sets Housing: Opening the Door Many communities are struggling to provide the kinds of housing their residents need and can afford. How do we meet diverse housing needs? How can planners best deal with controversial housing developments? These articles will help you to better understand and plan for challenging housing-related issues. For the detailed contents and to order, go to: www.pcj.typepad.com (right hand sidebar). This is just one of our attractively bound Taking a Closer Look reprint collections. Other sets include: Basic Planning Tools; Ethics; Planning Law; Transportation; Downtowns; Smart Growth; and Design & Aesthetics. Taking a Closer Look A PLANNING CO M M I S S I O N E R S J O U R N A L SPECIAL COLLE C T I O N www.plannersweb.com PLANNING COMMISSIONE R S REPRIN T S