Kara Sears
New York City was the first city to establish comprehensive zoning laws in 1916, in response to the construction of the Equitable Building, which overshadowed neighbouring residences. The zoning laws were designed to regulate the height of buildings and their use, and to separate factories from homes. The laws were written by a commission headed by Edward Bassett and signed by Mayor John Purroy Mitchel. The Standard State Zoning Enabling Act (SZEA), a federal planning document, was first drafted and published in 1922, providing a model for states to enact their own zoning laws.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
New York City's 1916 zoning resolution
The 1916 resolution established height restrictions for the entire city, with residential zones being the most restrictive. Buildings in these zones were limited to a height no higher than the width of the adjoining streets, a ratio of one-to-one. This was designed to prevent the invasion of residential areas by factories and businesses, and to reduce congestion in areas where the business population was already too large for sidewalks and transit facilities. The resolution also regulated land use, preventing factories and warehouses from encroaching on retail districts.
The 1916 Zoning Resolution was created by a commission headed by Edward Bassett and signed by Mayor John Purroy Mitchel. Bassett's zoning map established the height restrictions and became the blueprint for zoning in the rest of the country. The resolution was superseded in 1961 by a new zoning solution that used Floor Area Ratio (FAR) regulation instead of setback rules. This new solution also included an incentive bonus rule, encouraging developers to incorporate adjacent public open spaces into their building plans.
New York City's 1916 resolution was not the first attempt at zoning laws in the United States. Early ordinances were more narrow in scope, such as Modesto, California's 1885 ban on wash houses in certain areas, which was aimed at racial segregation. Richmond's 1908 zoning ordinance, regulating building height and arrangement, was also an early example, as was Los Angeles' establishment of land-use restrictions for a portion of the city in 1904. However, New York City's 1916 resolution was the first comprehensive zoning ordinance, addressing a range of issues related to urban growth and congestion.
Laws of Motion: Understanding the Core Principles
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Equitable Building
New York City was the first to establish comprehensive zoning laws in 1916, following the construction of the Equitable Building. The Equitable Life Assurance Agency headquarters, located at 120 Broadway in Manhattan's Financial District, was completed in 1915. The building was a massive structure that towered over neighbouring residences, blocking windows and diminishing the availability of sunlight for people in the area.
However, a fire in 1912 that resulted in six fatalities contradicted the building's claimed fireproofing. This prompted the building's reconstruction in 1915, which ushered in a new era of urban planning. The new Equitable Building was even taller, casting extensive shadows over surrounding streets and buildings, and causing a public backlash. The public outcry led to the 1916 Zoning Resolution, which aimed to regulate building heights and preserve street-level sunlight and air.
The 1916 Building Zone Resolution was the first comprehensive zoning regulation of its kind, setting a benchmark for other cities and becoming the blueprint for zoning across the country. The new zoning laws included height and width restrictions, with residential zones being the most restrictive, limiting building height to no higher than the width of adjoining streets. The laws also established distance between certain property types to prevent incompatible land use, such as an industrial factory being located next to a hospital.
Kepler's First Law: A Revolutionary Discovery in Astronomy
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Height restrictions
New York City was the first city to establish comprehensive zoning laws in 1916, in response to the construction of the Equitable Building, which towered over neighbouring residences, blocking windows and diminishing the availability of sunshine.
The 1916 zoning laws in New York City established height restrictions for the entire city, expressed as ratios between maximum building height and the width of adjacent streets. These laws became the blueprint for zoning in the rest of the United States.
The laws created five height districts, each designated by a "multiple", which established how high a building could rise straight up before it had to be set back from the street line in relation to the width of the street. The "multiple" created an "envelope" into which the building had to fit. As a building got taller, the setback ensured that some sunlight would reach the street.
The most liberal zone was the 2.5-times district in Lower Manhattan, while much of Midtown was a 2-times district. Most of the outer-borough suburban areas were 1-times districts. For example, in a 2-times district, a building could rise 120 feet (about 10 stories) before it had to be set back. After that, it could rise four feet for every two feet set back.
A tower could rise to an unlimited height if its footprint was no more than 25% of the lot area. The idea of stepping back the upper floors of high-rises to allow more light to reach the street had first been suggested by American architects in the 1890s.
The Earliest Code of Canon Law: When and Why?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Land-use restrictions
In 1916, New York City adopted the first comprehensive zoning regulations to be applied citywide. This was in response to the construction of the Equitable Building, which towered over neighbouring residences, blocking their windows and diminishing the availability of sunshine. These laws became the blueprint for zoning in the rest of the country.
The need for formal zoning in America arose at the turn of the 20th century as cities such as New York experienced rapid urbanisation and industrial growth. There was a growing need to reduce congestion, stabilise property values, combat poor urban design, and protect residents from issues such as crowded living conditions, disease outbreaks, and industrial pollution.
New York's 1916 zoning resolution was based on the concept of "districting by use", with restrictions on the maximum mass allowed for individual buildings. It established height restrictions for the entire city, expressed as ratios between maximum building height and the width of adjacent streets. Residential zones were the most restrictive, limiting building height to no higher than the width of adjoining streets. The law also regulated land use, preventing factories and warehouses from encroaching on retail districts.
While New York City was the first to implement comprehensive zoning regulations, other cities had enacted narrower zoning ordinances prior to 1916. For example, Modesto, California passed an ordinance in 1885 banning wash houses from certain areas, and Los Angeles established the nation's first land-use restrictions for a portion of the city in 1904. Additionally, Richmond's 1908 zoning ordinance regulating building height and arrangement was upheld by the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in 1910, setting a precedent for New York City's 1916 resolution.
First Amendment: Natural Law or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Edward Bassett's zoning map
New York City was the first city to establish comprehensive zoning laws in 1916, in response to the construction of the Equitable Building, which towered over neighbouring residences. The building blocked the windows of neighbouring buildings and diminished the availability of sunshine for people in the affected area. The zoning laws established height restrictions for the city, with residential zones being the most restrictive, and limiting building height to no higher than the width of adjoining streets. The laws also regulated land use, preventing factories and warehouses from encroaching on retail districts. These laws were written by a commission headed by Edward Bassett and signed by Mayor John Purroy Mitchel. Bassett's zoning map became the blueprint for zoning in the rest of the country.
Edward Bassett is known as the author of the first comprehensive zoning ordinance in the United States. He was part of the Advisory Committee on Zoning, later known as the Advisory Committee on City Planning and Zoning, which was established by Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of Commerce. The committee was tasked with drafting model zoning statutes, and Bassett was one of the members who composed a series of drafts for the Standard State Zoning Enabling Act (SZEA). Bassett's zoning map for New York City established height restrictions for the entire city, with the maximum building height expressed as a ratio of the width of adjacent streets. Residential zones were the most restrictive, as Bassett aimed to prevent the construction of skyscrapers that would block light and air from reaching the streets. He also advised against zoning that would forbid apartment buildings in single-family home zones, instead favouring one broad residential zone for all types of housing. Bassett's map regulated land use, keeping factories and warehouses separate from retail districts.
Bassett's zoning map and laws had a significant impact on the shape of skyscrapers, as famously illustrated by architect and illustrator Hugh Ferriss. Bassett's work became the blueprint for zoning across the United States, with many cities adopting similar regulations to manage the challenges of rapid urbanisation and industrial growth. Euclidean zoning, the most common type of zoning in the US, is a form of single-use zoning that emerged from the Case of Euclid vs. Ambler. It allows only one kind of land use per zone, such as residential, commercial, or industrial zones. Euclidean zoning prevents incompatible land use and helps maintain the quality of life in cities by separating residential areas from commercial and industrial construction.
While Bassett's zoning map had a significant influence on city planning, it also faced critiques from various groups. Social justice proponents criticised exclusionary practices, while private property rights groups opposed government intervention. Additionally, urbanists and environmentalists objected to the strict separation of uses and controls on density. Despite these criticisms, mainstream zoning codes have been largely resistant to attacks over the years. Bassett's work continues to shape urban development and the legal framework for managing land use in American cities.
Astrology: Science or Superstition?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
New York City was the first to establish comprehensive zoning laws in 1916.
The need for formal zoning arose due to rapid urbanization and industrial growth. The laws were intended to reduce congestion, stabilize property values, combat poor urban design, and protect residents from issues such as crowded living conditions, disease outbreaks, and industrial pollution.
The laws included height and width restrictions to ensure that buildings did not block light and air for neighbouring residences. They also regulated land use, preventing industrial and commercial areas from encroaching on residential districts.
Yes, there were earlier, more narrow zoning ordinances in the U.S. Modesto, California passed an ordinance in 1885 to ban wash houses from certain areas, particularly targeting Chinese laundries in the city's Chinatown. Los Angeles also enacted land-use restrictions for a portion of the city in 1904.
Euclidean zoning, also known as single-use zoning, is the most common type of zoning in the U.S. It allows only one kind of land use per zone, such as residential, commercial, or industrial.
