HFBC Resources

Open Space

The presentation includes a discussion of several topics which viewers may wish to investigate further.

Conservation Tools has a number of helpful resources including a robust discussion of local land use controls as well as tools like Conservation by Design and Transfer of Development Rights.
The PA Department of Community and Economic Development has also published a series on key planning topics, including zoning (see the section on alternative approaches in zoning for a discussion of cluster zoning (PDF) and transfer of development rights).
Montgomery County published a Land Preservation District (PDF) overview which explains how open space can be preserved in residential developments.
In 2015, the Centre Regional Planning Agency published An Overview of Common Zoning Validity Challenges (PDF) that many people may find useful.
This summary of Allen Distribution v. West Pennsboro Township Zoning Hearing Board provides a very good overview of spot zoning and how the court went through its decision-making process.
View the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (PDF).

Those interested in reading the court cases discussed in the presentation can access the following:

The presentation includes a discussion of several topics which viewers may wish to investigate further.

The affordable housing toolkit, published by the National Multifamily Housing Council, provides a good starting point for investigations. It includes several case studies. The National Association of Counties also has a useful toolkit. HUD also provides a useful toolkit.
This publication by the APA provides a good overview of a strategy known as Inclusionary Upzoning (PDF).
This article by the Brookings institute discusses the importance of aligning affordable housing goals and zoning.

This article provides some background on accessory dwelling units.