Zoning and Land Use Assessment: Phase I Activities & Assessment Design

The goal of Phase I was to determine built environment outcomes on which to base the assessment and develop a methodology to test whether those outcomes are impacted by zoning and land use. The Steering Committee developed and agreed on key definitions of equity, sustainability, and public health to guide the creation of a list of prioritized outcomes. MPC and the Urban Institute used those outcomes to devise an analysis approach and identify key data sources. This approach was strengthened through a literature review and discussions with practitioners in other cities that have conducted impact assessments. Additionally, the Steering Committee, along with input from organizations participating in Focus Groups, identified a series of challenges and successes around the zoning and land use process that will be explored further as part of Phase II.