Conversion of the former Higher One headquarters in New Haven to lab-ready space by a development team including Twining Properties illustrated rising demand for life science expansion and commercial real estate opportunities in the Elm City. Photo courtesy of Twining Properties

New Haven leaders are eying a zoning overhaul to help the city make sure it’s ready for climate change, and to help channel future development in an equitable way.

City officials included the rezoning plans in a list of activities the City Plan Department plans to undertake in the coming fiscal year, the New Haven Independent reported.

The city’s Board of Alders is holding department-by-department hearings on the city’s fiscal year 2022 budget.

The decision was inspired by the wave of unrest and discussion around racial injustice that swept across the city and the nation last year, City Plan Director Aïcha Woods told alders.

“Our comprehensive plan has always held those values, but we haven’t really updated our zoning ordinances since the ’60s. It’s time to kind of rethink the whole thing. That is really going to be our major focus over the next couple years,” she said.

Multifamily developers flocked to New Haven in droves in recent years, and the city’s growing biotech scene is driving several new developments, but some are concerned the activity may price out longtime residents.