Impact of zoning (and not zoning)

Have you ever wondered why certain businesses are in specific areas or why some neighborhoods have only single-family homes while others have apartments and condominiums? The answer is zoning, a set of rules that helps shape our communities.

Zoning is a way for cities and communities to divide land into different zones or districts. Each zone has its own rules about what can be built and what activities can take place there. The main goal of zoning is to make sure that land is used in a way that is safe, healthy, and fair for everyone, including people who live there, businesses, and developers. Not all communities have zoning. The Mat-Su Borough doesn't have zoning everywhere, but the three cities in the Borough do have zoning maps and rules.

Zoning laws say what can be built in each zone, like houses, stores, factories, or farms. For example, a residential zone might allow single-family homes, duplexes, or small apartment buildings, but not big stores or factories. A commercial zone might allow stores, restaurants, and offices, but not houses. Some areas have special zones, like Houston's Parks Highway District.

Zoning laws also have rules about how buildings should be designed, like how far they should be from the property line, how big the lots should be, and how much parking there should be. These rules help make sure that new buildings fit in with the neighborhood and don't cause problems for things like roads and utilities.

Zoning is important because it helps keep our communities nice places to live. It separates things that don't go well together, like factories and houses, which helps protect property values and keep neighborhoods looking nice. When zoning is done right, it also helps cities and towns grow in an organized way by putting new buildings in areas that have the right services and infrastructure.

One part of zoning that can affect property values is the minimum lot size rule. When a zone has a minimum lot size, it means that properties in that area can't be too small. For example, if a residential zone requires lots to be at least one acre, the houses will be bigger and more spread out than in a zone with smaller lot sizes. Bigger lots often mean higher property values because people are willing to pay more for more space and privacy. But if the minimum lot sizes are too big, it can also make infrastructure more expensive and might cause cities to spread out too much.

It's important to remember that even when zoning is in place, property owners can still be affected by what their neighbors are allowed to do. For example, if a property is zoned for commercial use and the owner decides to open a busy restaurant or nightclub, people living nearby might have to deal with more noise, traffic, and parking problems. This shows how important it is to think carefully about how zoning decisions might affect everyone involved and to try to find a balance between individual property rights and what's best for the whole community.

The main zoning districts are the same in all the cities in the Mat-Su. Residential districts allow different types of housing, like single-family homes, duplexes, and apartments, depending on the specific district. Agricultural districts are meant to protect farmland and allow things like farming and ranching. Commercial districts are for businesses, offices, and stores. Industrial districts are for factories and other industrial uses, with rules to minimize the impact on neighboring properties.

Not all areas have zones, though. Most of the Mat-Su outside of the cities is un-zoned. This means that someone could run a busy factory right next to an apartment building, and the people living there might not have much they can do about it. Zoning protects people as much as it limits what they can do with their property.

It's important for people to know about the zoning rules that apply to their property and the area around it. You can find zoning information by contacting your local assessor's office. Understanding zoning can help you make good decisions about buying or developing property, as well as participating in public meetings and decisions about land use issues.

Christian M. Hartley is a 40-year Alaskan resident with over 25 years of public safety experience and public service. He runs a freelance business, Big Lake Writer, from home in Big Lake that he shares with his wife of 19 years and their three teenage sons.