Julie Iovine writes for the Wall Street Journal about "activist" zoning in the Bloomberg administration: "It not only shapes the blocks and writes the skyline, but also aims to curb obesity by offering incentives for fresh-food markets in low-income neighborhoods; buck up the mom-and-pop store; and promote an astonishing range of other quality-of-life benefits."
Regional Plan Association senior fellow and Center for Urban Innovation director Julia Vitullo-Martin observes that, "Zoning has always concerned itself, for better or worse, with social matters, such as banishing noxious uses. What's different now is that the planning commission is moving from zoning that's negative on social issues to being positive, like mandating green markets and bike rooms."
