Sunday, February 22, 2026

Euclid: Single Family Zoning

 Why not allow apartment buildings to be built in "single-family" residential districts?

See page 760:

"With particular reference  to  apartment  houses,  it  is  pointed  out  that  the  development  of detached  house  sections  is  greatly  retarded  by  the  coming  of  apartment houses,  which  has  sometimes   resulted  in  destroying  the  entire  section  for private house purposes; that in such sections  very often the apartment house is a mere parasite, constructed in order to take advantage of the  open spaces and  attractive  surroundings  created  by  the  residential  character  of  the  district. Moreover, the coming of one apartment house is followed by others, interfering  by  their height  and  bulk  with  the  free  circulation  of  air  and monopolizing  the  rays  of  the   sun  which  otherwise  would  fall  upon  the smaller   homes,   and   bringing,  as   their    necessary   accompaniments,   the disturbing   noises   incident   to   increased   traffic   and    business,   and   the occupation, by means of moving and parked automobiles, of larger portions of  the streets, thus detracting from their safety and depriving children of the privilege of quiet and  open spaces for play, enjoyed by those in more favored localities—until,  finally,  the   residential  character  of  the  neighborhood  and its desirability as a place of detached  residences are utterly destroyed. Under these  circumstances,  apartment  houses,   which  in  a  different  environment would  be  not  only  entirely unobjectionable but highly desirable,   come very near to being nuisances."

 And what is a nuisance?

See page 758: "A nuisance may be merely a right thing in the  wrong  place,  like  a  pig  in  the  parlor  instead  of  the  barnyard.  If  the validity    of   the   legislative   classification   for   zoning   purposes be fairly debatable, the legislative judgment must be allowed to control."

As You Wish Deference

This extreme deference to the legislature is what I call "as you wish" deference. It is similar to the way Farmboy in Princess Bride would always say "as you wish" lovingly to Buttercup, no matter how unreasonable her demand.

Deference to the legislature, of course, is to reject the citizen's claim to individual liberty and private property.