Bulk Control and Zoning: The New York City Experience

Abstract

Side as a factor in origin of comprehensive zoning.4 The objectives of regulating density and congestion, safeguarding access to light and air, and providing open space are sought to be achieved in American zoning by a variety of bulk controls.5 Although pursuit of these objectives is an important and integral part of zoning throughout the United States, case study analysis of the development of zoning regulations dealing with the height, building bulk, percentage of lot coverage, yard and open space sizes, and density requirements is scant. It is therefore the purpose of this paper to focus upon the bulk controls of New York City's Zoning. There is a variety of cogent reasons for selecting New York City's zoning resolution for case study. This pioneering ordinance had significant influence throughout the United States and was widely emulated.6 Perhaps the use of such a case study will in some measure help reduce the making of the same zoning mistakes and over again... because we do not have the knowledge of what is applicable across-the-board and what is unique in each community.' Recognizing that New York City has been confronted with a wide diversity of planning and zoning problems for many years, the Executive Director of the American Society of Planning Officials has suggested that analysis of the