Editorial: Planning for diversity

Monday, Jan. 26, 2004 | 8:45 a.m.

When he recalls growing up in Philadelphia, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman notes that his neighborhood included people of all income levels. More and more, cities, including Las Vegas, are planning for just the opposite. There are "upscale" neighborhoods, middle-class neighborhoods and poor neighborhoods -- by design. Seeing the social stratification this is causing, and the frequent problem of average-income people such as police officers, nurses and teachers being unable to find affordable housing near where they work, planners in many cities have successfully introduced "inclusionary zoning."

The term refers to planning that has a formula for integrating reasonably priced homes and low-priced homes among upscale and middle-class neighborhoods. Inclusionary zoning has no single formula for success. Wherever it's at work, the formula varies to reflect local goals. At a conference Goodman attended last week in Washington, where inclusionary zoning was discussed, the mayor said he was inspired by the concept. We hope he remains inspired and stimulates public discussion of inclusionary zoning here at home.