Generally, the change would allow single-family homes. But it would not REQUIRE single-family homes.
A typical development pattern might be something like...
- all single family homes to start
- area gets popular (property value goes up), a few SFH are replaced with duplex or small apartments
- area gets more popular, more SFH removed, mid-rise apartments begin to appear, small-scale retail appears
Etc.
Of course, this requires that NIBMYs aren't allowed to control other people's property. And the zoning and codes that do exist are enforced so you don't end up with a SFH next to a gas station.
If I had to commute for an hour both ways, I would go completely insane. I don't know about you, but I need to live near where I work, meet friends, and have hobbies.
People are not livestock, to be ferried from place to place as market forces see fit.
That said, we can't have both. Either we have density, or we have everything spread out with long commutes.
Personally, I support Japanese style zoning, and letting people buy the kind of property they wish to live in.
I'm with you and I will probably never have a roommate again because of negative experiences.
However, I've always felt something is deeply wrong with the way zoning works right now. I live in a suburb type residential neighbourhood and the nearest corner store is a 20 minute walk away -- that seems silly. At some point we strictly divided residential and commercial and we all suffer because of it.
Zoning is also one of the prime factors in the car culture problem that is eating up the world's resources and boiling the frog called humanity.
If I had to live in a multi family home I would completely go insane. I don't know about you, but I need space in order to function.
People are not livestock, to be packed in as tightly as possible.
That said, the types of multi family houses in this article are fine by me - they have lots of space around them.