Zonability™ is a product line developed by Beyond Value, Inc., a Delaware corporation that morphed from being in the commercial real estate service sector to technology. It was actually the years of analyzing real estate that created the spark to build accessible zoning data.
Zoning affects everyone. Where you live, work, play and what can be done with an individual property - its use and ability to change. The available tools on line took too long to figure out - it was too complicated, overstuffed with jargon and plain dry, like reading an owner's manual.
Leigh Budlong, Founder & CEO, came up with the idea of Zonability after visualizing a world in which pertinent zoning data could be made accessible creating a wide range of possibilities. She spent nearly 20 years in the commercial real estate field, primarily in appraising small to mid-sized urban properties.
We know zoning is confusing, we hear it all the time. This video is a spoof that shows the problem we are solving.
Zoning Affects Everyone! However, poor access to zoning rules has created a situation in which this important information is often overlooked until a problem arises.
In order to change that, Zonability has created the first structured database of zoning information across multiple jurisdictions. We are solving problems related to access and distribution of zoning data. Our proprietary technology and patent-pending methods enable scalable aggregation, curation, and normalization of this important data.
Zonability has two main functions that result in making zoning rules useful and accessible:
Breaking down zoning ordinances into small bites to create useful products.
Enhancing communication between city planners and citizens.
If, and where, you can build
Allowed uses - with or without special permits
Building size, height and design
Parking, open space
Density
and more...
It is imperative to understand for:
Buying
Leasing
Loaning
Building/ new construction
Insuring properly
Remodeling/property upgrades
Participating in community proposed projects
The result of zoning is physically visible and translates to a community’s quality of life, level of property rights and real estate values. Zoning creates not only the types of storefronts but the types of streets (a busy thoroughfare with limited parking vs. a “main street” with wide sidewalks and street parking). Zoning shapes the skyline, parks and public squares and plazas. Zoning specifies where new housing can be added, if a chain store is ok and even the hours of operation for businesses.
Still think zoning doesn’t apply to you? This is a pretty inclusive list of the purpose for zoning taken straight out of a zoning ordinance in Sacramento, CA.
promotes public health and safety
stabilizes property values
provides for light and air
regulates population levels (“prevents undue concentration”)
lessens traffic congestion
Awards & Achievements
White House and Champion of Change
On June 1, 2011, Leigh Budlong was selected a “Champion of Change,” given to promote entrepreneurs who "out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world" as part of President Obama’s “Winning the Future.” The recipients for the Technology category, one of the 20 within the program, were nominated and vetted by Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Office & Associate Director for Technology. A special event was held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House grounds on June 10, 2011.
News!
>>White House Champions of Change
>>Notes from the Champions of Change — Open Innovators Event at the White House
>>White House Champions of Change – Open Innovators Event
Living labs
Living Labs Global's short-list for an international app contest, March 2011.
Named one of 5 finalists (out of 245 entries from 127 cities in 30 countries), Zonability is one of 5 that made the "short list" in one of the 8 categories: "Creating the Next Generation of Government" category.
Californians
Apps for Californians Winner 2010, a first time in the 15-year history to invite entries from the private sector as a collaboration with Google, Microsoft, Center for Digital Government and ProgrammableWeb. ZonabilitySF was named a 2010 Winner for its mobile web app
go fresh
>>Zonability founder shares thoughts on apps, open data, advice to civic developers
Gov 2.0 Radio
>>Zonability founder shares thoughts on apps, open data, advice to civic developers
wheelhouse
>> Leigh Budlong from Zonability
SFBusiness Times
>>White House recognizes App-titude
>>Startups build businesses on S.F. data
In the News
>>http://www.govtech.com/e-government/White-House-Honors-Unsung-Open-Data-App-Developers.html
>>http://www.govtech.com/e-government/White-House-Honors-Unsung-Open-Data-App-Developers.html
>>http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2011/06/white-house-recognizes-app-titude.html
Personal story: People ask "why zoning?" "What made you think to do this?"
I tell them I was a consumer of zoning ordinance information. For years (1991-2009) I worked as a commercial real estate appraiser and spent countless hours online, emailing and calling various planning departments - it was not efficient and I wished something like Zonability existed. More frustrating was how property owners and buyers didn't see what the advantage or disadvantage of their zoning was relative to its purchase price, its flexibility, its financing options.
Fast forward to the credit crisis meltdown in October 2008, by then I had already been developing technology to solve another need, a ballpark value for small commercial properties. However, time and time again, I realized the hurdle was in not knowing the zoning and what it meant.
Why do it? Because someone had to. Zoning information affects everyone. It is too valuable to be locked up for only the most knowledgeable to get to and comprehend. Our motto is:
Zoning is for everyone so make it accessible.
