As Atlanta continues to grow, evolve, and welcome new residents, we find ourselves at a critical intersection:
How do we create more housing, especially affordable, workforce, and missing middle housing, without disrupting the very communities we’re trying to serve?
This question often surfaces in conversations around spot zoning, a term that can quickly trigger concern, opposition, and sometimes even division.
But what if we reframed the conversation?
What Is Spot Zoning, And Why Does It Matter?
At its core, spot zoning refers to rezoning a small parcel of land in a way that is inconsistent with the surrounding area or broader land use plan.
In practice, it might look like:
- A high-density development placed in the middle of a low-density neighborhood
- A commercial use inserted into a primarily residential block
- A project that feels out of scale with its surroundings
Historically, spot zoning has been viewed as problematic, and for good reason. When done without alignment or community context, it can:
- Undermine long-term planning efforts
- Strain infrastructure
- Disrupt neighborhood character
- Erode trust between communities and developers
These concerns are valid and they deserve to be acknowledged.
But, Here’s the Tension We Must Address
We are also facing a housing crisis.
We need more:
- Affordable housing
- Workforce housing
- Missing middle housing options
And often, the areas where housing is most needed are also the areas where:
- Zoning is outdated
- Density is restricted
- Change is met with understandable caution
So the question becomes:
If we don’t evolve zoning, how do we create the housing our communities need?
The Opportunity: From “Spot Zoning” to Thoughtful Growth
Not every zoning change is inherently harmful. In fact, some of what gets labeled as “spot zoning” today is actually an attempt to:
- Introduce diverse housing types
- Increase access to homeownership
- Create more inclusive communities
The real issue isn’t change, it’s HOW change happens.
When development feels:
- Sudden
- Out of scale
- Disconnected from the surrounding community
…it creates resistance.
But when development is:
- Intentional
- Gradual
- Aligned with a broader vision
…it creates opportunity.
Introducing the Idea of “Gentle Zoning”
What if, instead of thinking in extremes, we leaned into what I call “gentle zoning”?
Gentle zoning is about:
- Incremental density instead of dramatic shifts
- Thoughtful transitions between housing types
- Design that respects the existing character while allowing evolution
It looks like:
- Single-family homes transitioning to duplexes or townhomes
- Townhomes leading into small multifamily
- Density increasing along corridors, not dropped into the middle of neighborhoods
This isn’t forcing change. It’s about guiding it responsibly.
Building WITH Communities, Not Around Them
For those of us developing and advocating for housing, this is where our responsibility deepens.
We have to ask:
Are we engaging communities early or presenting finished plans?
Are we designing projects that fit or just projects that maximize yield?
Are we building trust or unintentionally eroding it?
Community input through mechanisms like Atlanta’s NPU system isn’t a barrier. It’s an opportunity.
Because the strongest developments don’t just get approved. They get supported.
A Call for Collaboration
This moment calls for alignment, not division.
Developers, planners, community leaders, and residents all want something fundamentally similar: Thriving, stable, and inclusive communities.
So perhaps the conversation shouldn’t be:
- “Should this project be approved or denied?”
But instead:
- “How can this project be shaped to better fit, serve, and strengthen this community?”
Those decisions are not often quickly made and require more time and flexibility by the developer and the community.
Growth is inevitable. Disruption is not.
If we approach development with intention, humility, and collaboration, we can:
- Expand housing opportunities
- Preserve community identity
- And build neighborhoods that are stronger together than they were before
The future of our cities depends on our ability to do both.
Karen Hatcher, CPM®