As Utah legislators consider zoning preemption proposals in the upcoming general session, many point to Houston, Texas, as evidence that eliminating local zoning unleashes prosperity.

The narrative seems straightforward: America's fourth-largest city flourishes without bureaucratic development constraints. However, this oversimplified story masks troubling realities that should concern Utah policymakers who value genuine conservative principles like local control and property rights.

Houston hasn't eliminated land use controls; it has created a two-tiered system that protects the well-connected and wealthy while leaving ordinary families vulnerable. Wealthy areas like River Oaks maintain strict private deed restrictions functioning exactly like zoning ordinances.

These neighborhoods suc

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