Sources for July 2026 Postcard

• Zoning is kind of technical, but important: It controls what developers can do where. If developers and owners follow zoning rules, neighbors and government have no say in what gets built.

Source: https://www.planetizen.com/definition/right-development
What Is By-Right Development?

A by-right approval (also known as an as-of-right approval) is granted when a development proposal strictly conforms to zoning and building codes and, thus, qualifies for construction without requiring discretionary approval.

• Eliminating single-family zoning usually means duplexes, triplexes or small apartment buildings where there are now only single-family houses.

Source: https://www.oakpark.com/2026/03/12/oak-park-plan-for-eliminating-single-family-zoning-comes-into-focus/
Oak Park plan for eliminating single-family zoning comes into focus

• [Eliminating single-family zoning] … has not always had its intended consequences in Minnesota, Oregon, and California.

Source: https://www.propertyzoned.com/guides/states-that-eliminated-single-family-zoning
States That Have Eliminated Single-Family Zoning

The empirical evidence from Minneapolis (the most studied case) suggests that [its 2040 Comprehensive] plan has not caused the property value collapse that critics feared, nor has it produced dramatic affordability improvements [emphasis added].

• Several communities are facing lawsuits to return to single-family zoning.

Source: https://stateline.org/2024/09/16/the-yimby-push-for-multifamily-housing-hits-a-nope-from-homeowners/
The YIMBY push for multifamily housing hits a ‘nope’ from homeowners

… the “yes-in-my-backyard” movement has stumbled even before it’s really gotten started. In court challenges around the country, opponents have cited spikes in traffic, strains to infrastructure, displacement of low-income residents, hits on property values and changes to neighborhood character.

• Encourage developers to tear down good, viable houses to build something bigger

Source: https://law.du.edu/sites/default/files/2023-11/Teardowns%20%E2%80%93%20PAS%20QuickNotes.pdf
Teardowns

Developers pursue the teardown option primarily in areas where undeveloped land is scarce and the real estate market is strong.

• Make affordability worse, not better, if developers replace modest houses with luxury condos and apartments? The larger and more luxurious, the more profitable for them.

Source: A developer who lives Oak Park has advised the Village Board that:

There is no economics for two to four flats, and possibly up to six flats, given the high cost of property and construction.

www.oak-park.us, Government, Meetings, Village Board Agendas, Minutes & Videos, Archived Videos section, click Video in the May 19, 2026 row (see below), then start the video. The Oak Park developer’s advice starts at 01:24 into the video.