City of St. Louis Invites Community to Zoning Upgrade Open House – City of St. Louis, MO (.gov)

Report on the City of St. Louis Zoning Upgrade Project (ZOUP) and Public Engagement Initiative

Project Overview and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The City of St. Louis is undertaking its first comprehensive zoning code rewrite since the 1950s through the Zoning Upgrade Project (ZOUP). This initiative aims to modernize land use regulations to align with contemporary community goals and values. The project is fundamentally linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, by working to create an inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban environment. By focusing on improving equity in land use, the project also directly addresses SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Led by the Planning and Urban Design Agency (PDA) and the Zoning Section of the Building Division, ZOUP builds upon extensive community engagement from the Strategic Land Use Plan (SLUP) to guide the future development of the city’s neighborhoods.

Public Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement

In adherence with SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, which calls for responsive, inclusive, and participatory decision-making, the City is hosting a public event. This workshop provides a critical platform for residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to contribute to the urban planning process. Participants will review the Code Diagnostic, a document analyzing the current zoning code, and provide feedback on proposed new zoning districts. This collaborative approach embodies the principles of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by fostering cooperation between public institutions and civil society.

Strategic Objectives and Expected Outcomes

The primary goal of ZOUP is to develop a zoning code that is understandable, equitable, and effectively implemented. Mayor Cara Spencer emphasized that the update is “essential to making sure that St. Louis grows in a way that reflects our community’s values and priorities.” Don Roe, executive director of the PDA, highlighted the objective to create a “more user-friendly, flexible zoning code that reflects contemporary best practices.”

Key objectives include:

• Integrated Urban Planning: Aligning the new code with the SLUP and neighborhood plans, contributing to integrated and sustainable human settlement planning as specified in Target 11.3 of SDG 11.
• Sustainable Economic Growth: Creating clear and modern regulations that can foster sustainable development and economic activity, supporting SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
• Equitable Development: Ensuring the new code addresses the unique needs of all St. Louis neighborhoods and promotes equitable outcomes, directly supporting SDG 10.

Project Phases and Timeline

The ZOUP initiative is a multi-year project scheduled to continue through 2026. The process is structured to ensure comprehensive review and public involvement.

1. A full audit and diagnostic of the existing zoning code.
2. Incorporation of feedback from residents, the Zoning Upgrade Advisory Committee, and technical working groups, demonstrating a multi-stakeholder partnership (SDG 17).
3. A series of public workshops, webinars, and educational events under the “Code Connect” series to ensure broad community participation (SDG 16).
4. Development of new zoning districts, development standards, and an updated zoning map based on public engagement and the SLUP.

Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

To facilitate public participation, the project team has scheduled the following events:

• In-Person Open House and Workshop
  • Date: Wednesday, December 3
  • Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Location: O’Fallon Park Rec Complex, 4343 W. Florissant Ave., St. Louis, MO 63115
• Virtual “Code Connect” Meeting
  • Date: December 11
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Platform: Zoom (Registration required)

Further Information

Additional details regarding the ZOUP initiative and future engagement opportunities are available at www.zoup-stl.com. Inquiries can be directed to info@zoup-stl.com or 314-266-8620.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article directly addresses the core principles of SDG 11 by focusing on urban planning and land use management. The “Zoning Upgrade Project” (ZOUP) is a comprehensive effort to “modernize how land use is regulated in the City.” The project’s goal to ensure that “St. Louis grows in a way that reflects our community’s values and priorities” is central to creating sustainable and inclusive urban environments.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The process described in the article aligns with SDG 16, which aims to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions. The city is replacing an outdated zoning code from the 1950s with a “modern code to meet the moment.” The emphasis on “extensive community engagement,” creating a code that is “understandable, equitable, and effectively implemented,” and ensuring a “responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making” process all contribute to strengthening local governance and institutions.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Targets under SDG 11

1. Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management.

   The article highlights a city-wide initiative to overhaul its zoning regulations through a highly participatory process. It invites “residents, business owners and community stakeholders to participate” in workshops and public events. This process is designed to be integrated, as it aligns the new zoning code with the “Strategic Land Use Plan (SLUP) and neighborhood plans,” directly reflecting the goal of participatory and integrated urban planning.

Targets under SDG 16

1. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

   The project aims to improve the effectiveness and transparency of the city’s planning institutions. By replacing an archaic code with one that is “user-friendly,” “understandable,” and has improved “clarity,” the city is making its regulatory framework more accessible and accountable to the public. The goal is to create a zoning code that is “effectively implemented,” which points to building more effective institutional capacity.

2. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

   This target is explicitly demonstrated throughout the article. The entire ZOUP process is built on public participation, including an “open house and hands-on workshop,” “Public workshops, webinars, and educational events,” and the “Incorporation of feedback from residents, the Zoning Upgrade Advisory Committee, and working groups.” The mayor’s statement that the process “gives residents the opportunity to see what we’ve learned, react to early concepts and help shape the zoning districts” underscores the commitment to inclusive and participatory decision-making.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

While the article does not mention official SDG indicators, it implies several qualitative and process-based indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

Indicators for Target 11.3

• Implementation of a participatory planning process: The article describes the existence of multiple public engagement formats, such as the “open house and hands-on workshop,” “virtual ‘Code Connect’ meeting,” and ongoing opportunities to “review and comment on draft code language.” The number of events held and the level of public attendance could serve as measures.
• Adoption of an integrated land use plan: The primary outcome of the project—the development and official adoption of “zoning districts, development standards, and a zoning map based on the SLUP”—serves as a direct indicator that an integrated plan has been put into action.

Indicators for Target 16.7

• Number and diversity of public engagement opportunities: The article implies this indicator by listing various methods for public involvement: “public event,” “open house,” “workshops,” “webinars,” “virtual meeting,” an “Advisory Committee,” and “working groups of technical experts.”
• Mechanisms for incorporating public feedback: The process explicitly includes the “Incorporation of feedback from residents.” The project’s success can be measured by how this feedback is documented and reflected in the final zoning code, ensuring the new code “reflects what’s most important to them.”

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: stlouis-mo.gov