City Zoning: The Good, the Bad, and the Environmental Consequences with Nolan Gray, Author and Professional City Planner

For a lot of people, their only experience with city zoning is from playing SimCity. While SimCity may have introduced some aspects of zoning, it only scratches the surface of its real-world complexities. In this episode, we delve into the profound impact of zoning on our environment, including its role in promoting urban sprawl and car-dependent lifestyles that contribute to increased carbon emissions. Join us as we uncover the untold environmental consequences of zoning and discuss alternative approaches to create more sustainable and eco-friendly cities. It's time to reimagine the relationship between zoning and the environment for a greener future.Our guest on The Green Hour today is Nolan Gray, a distinguished expert in zoning and urban planning. I had the pleasure of meeting Nolan at an environmental conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he delivered a compelling talk on zoning and discussed his book titled "Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It," which was published in 2022.Nolan Gray currently serves as the research director for California YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) and has dedicated the majority of his career to the study of zoning. He brings a wealth of practical experience to the table, having worked as a planner in New York City. Nolan is also an Affiliated Scholar with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he advises state and local policymakers on land-use policy.With a Ph.D. in urban planning underway at UCLA, Nolan is actively contributing to the academic understanding of urban planning. He is widely recognized for his insightful contributions, with his work appearing in prominent publications such as The Atlantic, Bloomberg CityLab, and The Guardian. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Nolan Gray is a member of the esteemed America's Future 1995 Society, further demonstrating his standing as a respected authority in his field.