From John Zeanah

The Latest

A mix of writing, media coverage, and upcoming appearances—all in one place. Here, you’ll find reflections on urban planning, implementation strategies, press features, and where I’ll be speaking next.

John Zeanah wants city planning to be smarter – so he wrote a book

What Cities Can Learn from Preapproved Building Plans

Why Compact Neighborhoods Create More Sustainable Cities

Rethinking Building Codes to Expand Housing Choice

Episode 101: Beyond Zoning with John Zeanah and Andre D. Jones

Beyond Zoning, Part 2: How National Partners Impact Local Regulatory Reform

Beyond Zoning, Part 1: How Memphis Partnered with a Small Developer for Big Changes

New White Paper: Creating More Housing Doesn’t End With Zoning Reform

Pay Attention to What is Happening in Memphis

Featured

Reports & Articles

cover of Beyond Zoning Hidden Code Barriers to Middle-scale Housing

Beyond Zoning: Hidden Code Barriers to Middle-Scale Housing

Center for Building In North America
September 2025
Zoning Practice APA Issue #5 Cover

Beyond Use Zoning: The Role of Deregulation in Housing Equity

Zoning Practice
May 2022

Guiding Plan Implementation with Degree of Change

APA
July/August 2021

Let’s Connect

More Than Planning — Implementation

Whether developing a comprehensive plan, advising on policy, or speaking to a local, regional, or national audience , John’s focus remains the same: helping communities move from planning to action.
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