1. past tense of downzone; to reduce the permitted density or intensity of land use in a zoned area, typically by changing zoning regulations to allow fewer buildings or lower-density development
Usage: chiefly used in urban planning and real estate contexts; often used in passive voice or as an adjective describing an area

Examples

• The city council downzoned the neighborhood to preserve its residential character.
• After community opposition, the commercial district was downzoned to allow only small businesses.
• The downzoned area now permits only single-family homes instead of apartment buildings.
• Residents celebrated when the industrial zone was downzoned to mixed-use development.
• The property value decreased after the land was downzoned from commercial to residential use.