Austin Zwick, a researcher at Syracuse University, studied how municipal approval systems shape housing supply and prices. His work, published in the journal Urban Governance, looks at how approval rules affect what developers build.
Zwick contrasts de facto discretionary systems, where planners and elected officials negotiate and decide case by case, with by-right systems, where approval follows clear, listed requirements. Negotiations can aim to secure public amenities or social housing units, but they often take time and cost money.
Builders with time, money, and political access can endure long negotiations and pass costs to buyers. Smaller builders cannot absorb delays and extra costs. Zwick gives a Vancouver case where negotiations and political approvals added hundreds of thousands of dollars per unit before construction. He suggests local governments streamline approvals so more varied and affordable housing appears, not only relying on federal funding or broad new laws.
Difficult words
- municipal — relating to a city or local government
- developer — person or company that builds new housingdevelopers
- approval — official permission to do or build somethingapprovals
- discretionary — based on individual choice or case-by-case decision
- by-right — allowed automatically when rules are met
- negotiation — discussion to reach agreement between people or groupsnegotiations
- streamline — make a process faster and less complicated
- affordable — reasonably priced so many people can buy
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you seen local approval processes affect housing in your area? Give an example.
- What are the main advantages and disadvantages of negotiations between builders and officials?
- How could streamlining approvals help smaller builders and home buyers where you live?
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