The cost of housing is a top concern for likely voters in Utah, according to Sutherland Institute research. It’s easy for housing affordability to feel like an intractable issue, but one national expert argues that we can solve this policy challenge by reforming local zoning policies.

Nic Dunn talks with Nolan Gray, former New York City planner and current senior director of legislation and research for California YIMBY. Nolan shares the argument from his book, Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It, that the solution to the housing crisis facing America’s cities will come from rethinking and reforming local zoning laws to allow the housing market to better respond to demand.

Show notes:

• Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It
• Nolan Gray
• Utah Voter Priorities – Sutherland Institute research

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, equipping listeners to become more effective champions of sound principle and good policy. Visit defendingideas.org.