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Zoning & Land Use Assessment Research Findings

March 14, 2025 / Research

Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) and the Urban Institute are working in partnership with local stakeholders to assess the impacts of zoning and land use on public health, equity, and sustainability, and to develop recommendations for better planning and development practices. The key guiding questions for this project are:

To answer these guiding questions, stakeholders from the project’s Steering Committee used definitions for equity, sustainability, and public health to develop a list of built environment outcomes that they would like to see in Chicago. These outcomes were prioritized into seven key topics, and they form the basis of the research. Here is the list of outcomes we are analyzing: 

We took a three-part approach to the research.

First, we focused on understanding the outcome we were reviewing. Second, we focused on understanding how zoning intersected with the outcome. Third, we focused on connecting the outcome with the zoning to understand the relationship between the two. To review zoning, maps and data sets were compiled to compare changes across three distinct points in time: 2003, 2013, and 2023. 

Affordable Housing

Diverse and affordable housing options (subsidized, affordable, workforce/middle market, luxury) are available in every neighborhood including for the job insecure and unhoused populations.

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Metrics

To analyze affordability, the research team used Census data on metrics like rental prices, home values, demographics, and data on subsidized housing units. Permitting data was analyzed from the City of Chicago.

Affordable Housing: Research Questions & Key Findings

Affordable housing research questions and findings

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Strong Business Corridors

Diverse business opportunities to support economic needs and resiliency of communities, including revitalization and preservation of existing commercial corridors.

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Metrics

Five measures of business vibrancy were analyzed in relation to zoning: business density, business vacancy, consumer spending, employment density, and employment diversity. Business corridors and pedestrian corridors were also defined and reviewed.

Strong Business Corridors: Research Questions & Key Findings

Business corridors research questions and findings

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Limited Pollution Exposure

All neighborhoods feature low levels of pollution, taking into account cumulative impacts on overburdened communities.

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Metrics

This analysis used two different measures of pollution exposure: cumulative pollution exposure and air pollution (PM2.5). It also analyzed tree coverage.

Limited Pollution Exposure: Research Questions & Key Findings

Key Findings Limited Pollution Exposure

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Accessible Public Transit Hubs

All communities feature public transit options that are convenient and reliable, and serve hubs with housing, businesses, recreation and other services.

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Accessible Public Transit Hubs: Research Questions & Key Findings

Productive Land Use

All land in communities is used productively, meaning beneficial to local residents and aligned with community needs.

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Productive Land Use: Research Questions & Key Findings

Affordable housing research questions and findings

Available Groceries and Healthcare

Affordable grocery options and healthcare providers are accessible in all neighborhoods.

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Available Groceries and Healthcare: Research Questions & Key Findings

Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change

All communities feature green infrastructure and energy-efficient building stock that both mitigates and adapts to climate change.

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Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change: Research Questions & Key Findings

Affordable housing research questions and findings