Form-based zoning simplifies entitlement process for housing projects

Interviewed by Multi-Housing News, Ware Malcomb Director, Multifamily Daniel P. Gehman speaks about form-based zoning, and how it could help municipalities accelerate housing development. #WareMalcomb #ThoughtLeadership https://lnkd.in/grykSr6W

Revised Zoning Opportunities Start Jan 2026 House Bill 2721 – “Middle Housing” Reform Signed into law in May 2024, HB 2721 Mandates that cities with populations over 75,000, such as Phoenix, Tucson, and Tempe, revise their zoning regulations to permit the construction of duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes on lots currently zoned for single-family use within one mile of their central business districts. Additionally, for new developments of at least 10 acres, 20% of the area must be allocated for these types of middle housing. Municipalities are required to comply with this law by January 2026. Implications for Developers and Investors These legislative changes present new opportunities for developers and investors interested in multifamily housing projects: Increased Development Potential: The ability to build middle housing types and ADUs in areas previously restricted to single-family homes opens up new avenues for development. Streamlined Approval Processes: By overriding certain local zoning restrictions, these laws aim to simplify the approval process for qualifying projects. Market Expansion: The changes may lead to increased housing density in urban cores, potentially revitalizing neighborhoods and expanding the market for affordable housing options.

KM Associates of New York, Inc. is honored to provide code consultation expertise to New York City's "ADU for You" initiative whose application portal is now open to the public. This program marks an important milestone in addressing the city's housing challenges. The City of Yes ADU program creates meaningful opportunities for both homeowners and New Yorkers seeking affordable housing options. → Provides homeowners with new flexibility to build basement apartments, attic conversions, and backyard cottages → Transforms underutilized spaces into homes that serve real community needs → Establishes clear compliance frameworks for safe, legal ADU integration with rigorous standards for zoning, construction, fire safety, and occupancy → Features a Pre-Approved Plan Library to streamline the application and approval process This program represents thoughtful policy in action—addressing housing scarcity while maintaining safety and zoning standards. It's encouraging to see initiatives that benefit both property owners and families who have been priced out of traditional housing markets. We're committed to contributing our expertise alongside WXY architecture + urban design, Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester, and city agencies including DOB, HPD, DEP, and DOHMH to help establish the regulatory framework that makes safe, compliant ADUs possible across all five boroughs. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eY6exmwX

New York City's "ADU for You" program is an important step toward providing much needed housing opportunities. It allows for the creation of legal accessory dwelling units and gives homeowners more flexibility while creating meaningful opportunities for New Yorkers who have been priced out of traditional housing options. This initiative also provides a framework for integrating ADUs into existing properties while maintaining compliance with building and zoning requirements - transforming underutilized spaces into homes that serve both property owners and families seeking quality affordable housing. The KM Associates team is honored to provide code consultation guidance to this essential program. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eT6qTv8D

How can we build more “missing middle” housing, particularly three- or four-unit buildings, without breaking the bank? A new white paper featuring Malone Park Commons in Memphis shows it’s not just zoning that’s in the way. Outdated building codes, fire requirements, and infrastructure fees often make small projects financially unworkable. This is a valuable resource for planners, policymakers, and housing advocates working to unlock small-scale, neighborhood-friendly housing. Check it out.

Addressing zoning reform without building code reform is a shells-and-pea game where affordable construction is concerned. Requirements for certain building materials and dimensions, if inflexibly administered, are just as 'damming' for getting missing middle housing and missing middle neighborhood commercial ALLOWED and built.

While zoning reform is an important aspect of solving the crisis, it is just one piece of the puzzle. Many communities are still dealing with missing middle housing due to cost-restrictive building codes and regulations. John Zeanah, AICP, Chief of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Memphis, shines a light on the less talked about regulatory hurdles that drive up costs for middle housing in "Beyond Zoning: Hidden Code Barriers to Middle-Scale Housing": https://lnkd.in/eXYNcB8J

Housing production certainly is hindered in many communities by zoning code; however, for those who address their land use impediments, many other codes, and the cost to address, also serve as barriers. These barriers also may restrict production and need to be addressed if we are to build at a scale that helps house workforces and keeps markets stable. “…one issue that stuck out was the lack of missing middle housing. A big driver of that is due to restrictive building and fire codes, stormwater regulations, and utility requirements. For these types of projects to pencil out financially for developers, "code requirements have to be proportional to the number of units," Zeanah says.”

Cities across the United States are embracing the push for zoning reform to enable more production of housing supply, particularly to unlock more housing types in what has become known as the “missing middle.” Zoning reform is an important step toward this goal, but increasingly planners and local officials are finding that even after zoning updates are made, production of middle-scale housing remains slow. A report from the Center for Building in North America discusses how building codes, fire codes, stormwater rules, utility requirements, and more add substantial cost and delay — hurdles that go beyond what zoning regulates and must be addressed if cities want to expand middle-scale housing supply. Check out the latest CitiesSpeak’s article from John Zeanah, AICP, Chief of Development and Infrastructure, City of Memphis: https://lnkd.in/e-D5sFE6 #housing #housingsupply #zoning #buildingcodes #developers

Beyond zoning reform: In Memphis, the city teamed up with a small developer to tackle multiple hurdles blocking “missing middle” housing—fire codes, utility rules, and over-scaled building standards. A pilot project, Malone Park Commons, is now a test bed for regulatory change. via National League of Cities #MissingMiddle #ZoningReform #UrbanDevelopment #HousingInnovation #CityPolicy #CodeReform #InfillHousing #Memphis https://lnkd.in/g85ZCf9F