LightBox Picks Up Zoning Data Provider PZR

Housing supply, obsolete office conversions, data centers—all have something in common: zoning issues.

Real estate information and technology firm Lightbox recently announced that it acquired zoning data provider PZR (The Planning & Zoning Resource Company) and its “library of more than 223,000 digitized reports on file.”

“LightBox currently provides verified zoning reports to appraisal firms and has developed a national zoning layer which is accessible through its flagship LandVision™ product,” the company’s release said. “The addition of PZR’s powerful capabilities and deep expertise will enhance our customers’ ability to access commercial real estate data, analytics, and workflow tools.”

Local and state zoning can play havoc with development plans. Regulations can pressure developers for more affordable housing even as construction prices drive more moves toward upscale consumers. Zoning challenges also loom for cannabis companies. 

Entitlement is a critical step in any CRE development work and zoning clearance is a necessary localized and ongoing part of the process. The planning, entitlement, and construction process can take years. In the meantime, a local government could make changes to its zoning regulations, rendering a structure in process or newly built out of compliance. Getting detailed, accurate, and timely information is vital. 

Data aggregation and dissemination, long a practice in many industries, has been available for zoning, but now there’s a trend for consolidation. Companies with platforms to deliver certain types of local building data have begun to acquire, or at least partner with, firms that can add to their abilities to deliver zoning information.

For example, new proptech firm Zoned Properties focuses on the cannabis industry and other highly regulated industries, partnering with land use data firm Zoneomics “to streamline GIS mapping and data solutions in commercial real estate.”

Technology becomes critical when reporting on zoning. A major city like New York or Los Angeles likely has zoning maps and handbooks online. But there’s no guarantee that secondary or tertiary markets have the same level of availability. 

Developers or investors operating within a local market would have access to resources that offer details of zoning. A city or town or county official could be as close as a telephone call to check on details or pursue inquiries of what might be changing in zoning, even if such changes might come without fanfare or even warning.

But developers, investors, REITs, and others working across a potentially larger landscape lack that immediate physical access to resources. This is where a combination data aggregator, analyst, and presenter becomes necessary for efficient operations. Given the expanded interests of larger organizations, the need for such services will only increase in importance.