Lecture 33: Evolution and Growth of Planning Legislation II (USA)
TLDRThe lecture walks through the timeline of US planning legislation from 1700 to 2020 to illustrate how understanding of community, environment, and planning evolved over time. It begins with early land policy and sale, then covers the first zoning laws, public housing acts, environmental regulations, civil rights protections, and recent technology like self-driving cars. Along the way, major legislation responded to issues like overcrowding, discrimination, suburbanization, and disasters. The lecture aims for students to connect US developments to global contexts, consider conflicts around eminent domain, reflect on planning ethics, and link legislation back to sustainability and inclusivity goals.
Takeaways
- 😀 Early US land policy focused on systematic surveying and selling land for settlement
- 👥 Homestead Act opened public lands for settlers with low fees and residency requirements
- 🚧 Early legislation addressed housing, sanitation, land use zoning and obnoxious uses
- 🏘 Tenement House Laws aimed to improve living conditions in crowded housing
- 📜 Standard State Zoning Enabling Act guided states in creating zoning restrictions
- 🌳 National Environmental Policy Act mandated considering environmental impacts
- 👩⚖️ Court cases ruled on exclusionary zoning and eminent domain takings
- 💵 Funding mechanisms evolved from grants to tax incentives for development
- ♿️ Legislation prohibited discrimination and aimed to increase accessibility
- 🚘 Self-driving car technology brings new considerations for transportation planning
Q & A
What was the purpose of the Land Ordinance of 1785?
-The Land Ordinance of 1785 laid the foundation of the American land policy until the passage of the Homestead Act in 1862. It mandated the systematic survey and sale of surrendered Native American lands prior to settlements into six mile square townships.
How did the Homestead Act impact settlement and development of the American West?
-The Homestead Act opened up public domain lands to settlers for a nominal fee and 5 years of residence. This promoted rapid settlement and development of the American West. It also gave opportunities for African Americans to own land.
What were some key provisions of the New York State Tenement House Act of 1901?
-The 1901 Tenement House Act banned the construction of poorly ventilated, dark tenement buildings in New York state. It required new buildings to have outward facing windows, indoor bathrooms, proper ventilation and fire safeguards.
What was the objective behind establishing the National Planning Board in 1933?
-The National Planning Board aimed to promote the idea of planning in public works projects and push for comprehensive regional plans across the country.
How did the Housing Act of 1949 address issues of suburbanization?
-The 1949 Housing Act allocated funds to improve housing in urban areas, counter the effects of suburbanization, and prevent the flight of affluent residents from city centers.
What was the impact of the Federal Highway Act of 1956?
-The Federal Highway Act funded over 41,000 miles of interstate highways over 10 years. This contributed to increased driving and suburban growth, as well as the decline of central cities.
What was the purpose behind the Community Action Programs established in 1964?
-Community Action Programs aimed to eliminate poverty by giving impoverished communities decision-making power over allocation of funds. This raised awareness of the need to address social, economic and political factors in planning.
How did the Fair Housing Act of 1968 address housing discrimination?
-The Fair Housing Act prohibited discrimination in housing/property transactions based on race, color, religion, national origin, and later gender and disability. However, housing segregation persists today.
What major federal environmental legislation emerged in the early 1970s?
-Key environmental laws passed in the 1970s included NEPA (1969), the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Superfund Act. These strengthened environmental regulations and review.
How might self-driving cars impact urban planning in the future?
-Planners are working to accommodate self-driving vehicles through changes in transportation plans. This includes potential shifts in parking needs, roadway design, mobility services, etc.
Outlines
🏘️ Early Timeline of U.S. Planning Legislation
This paragraph covers the early timeline of U.S. planning legislation from 1785 to 1862, including the Land Ordinance of 1785 for surveying and selling land for settlement, the 1855 First Model Tenement Act in Manhattan for housing standards, and the 1862 Homestead Act allowing settlers to own land.
🏙️ Emergence of Housing Laws and Land Use Zoning
This paragraph discusses the 1864 campaign for housing standards in New York, the 1867 Tenement House Law restricting housing conditions, the 1879 Dumbbell Tenement Act concerning multi-family housing, and the beginning of land use zoning in San Francisco in the same period.
❤️ 1901 Tenement House Law and Preserving Heritage
This paragraph covers the 1901 New York State Tenement House Law banning problematic housing designs, the 1906 Antiquities Act preserving archaeological sites and landmarks, and the 1907 establishment of the first planning commission in Hartford, Connecticut.
📏 Early 20th Century Zoning Regulations
This paragraph discusses key zoning developments in the early 20th century - Los Angeles passing the first zoning ordinance in 1909, New York City passing the first comprehensive zoning resolution in 1916 based on designated building zones, and the 1923 Standard State Zoning Enabling Act to guide zoning restrictions.
🏘️ 1933-1964: Housing Legislation and Urban Renewal
This paragraph covers federal housing legislation and urban renewal programs between 1933-1964, including public housing projects, slum clearance, creation of HUD, and funding for city demonstration programs under the Model Cities initiative.
♿ 1968 Fair Housing Act and Beyond
This paragraph discusses civil rights related legislation from 1968 onwards - the Fair Housing Act prohibiting housing discrimination, later expanded to include gender, disability and family status, as well as the Community Reinvestment Act addressing discriminatory lending practices.
🌳 1970s Environmental Protection Laws
This paragraph covers the rise of environmental consciousness from 1970 onwards, including NEPA mandating federal agencies to assess environmental impacts, establishment of the EPA, and 1970s laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Coastal Zone Management Act etc.
🏘️ Low Income Housing Support
This final paragraph discusses legislation supporting low income housing and communities in more recent years, including the Low Income Housing Tax Credit in 1986, Empowerment Zones in 1993, and growing recognition of gender identity and orientation in housing non-discrimination laws.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡legislation
💡zoning
💡tenement
💡urban renewal
💡highway
💡environment
💡community
💡technology
💡sustainability
💡inclusivity
Highlights
The key transformation happened through the Act for land policy until the passage of Homestead Act in 1862
New York Council mounts a campaign to raise housing and sanitary standards in 1867
In 1879, the Dumbbell Tenement Act came which was notorious for poor living conditions
In 1901 New York State Tenement House law came to outlaw Dumbbell Tenements
In 1906, Antiquities Act was signed to preserve archaeological sites on public lands
In 1907, Hartford had the first official and permanent local planning board in the country
In 1916, New York passed the first comprehensive zoning ordinance in the country
In 1949, the Housing Act aimed to construct housing units and inaugurated urban renewal
In 1954, Housing Act stressed slum prevention and urban renewal rather than slum clearance
In 1956, the Federal Aid Highway Act contributed to suburbs growth and cities decline
In 1964, the Urban Mass Transportation Act shifted financing mass transit to federal grants
In 1970, National Environmental Policy Act mandated federal agencies to consider environmental impacts
In 1985, Florida required local plans be consistent with state and regional plans
In 2017, self-driving cars were announced to begin mass production
The legislation journey shows the evolution in understanding communities and planning
Transcripts
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