Zoning

Zoning well is very important. Reasons:

1. Zoning well at the first place can lead you to succeess.

2. That means if zoned well, you can have high land values, low traffic congestion.

3. You don't have to pay so many to the police and fire departments.

4. Your city will look good with good zoning.(Or not if you use a robotic zoning strategy).

If you want to zone well, you need to know some facts:

1. Building on flat land is easier compare to hills in the start. Your city may look good(especially with residents) building on hills. But pipes, power lines and transport connecting may be pretty confusing, and it costs more because you'll have to change the terrain to meet your demand.

2. Sims like to live near industries and commerce, but dislike living next to them.

3. Residents will build as far as 4 tiles, industries as far as 5 tiles, and 3 tiles for commerce.

4. Be careful of pollution. All 3 zones dislike pollution.(Industries too? Yes, if you don't want to see those ugly looking muck factories.)

Some zoning strategies:

I call it robotic zoning:

R|C|I|P|R|C|I|P|R|........ R=Residents 

R|C|I|P|R|C|I|P|R|........C=Commerce

                          R|C|I|P|R|C|I|P|R|........I=Industries     P=Public facilities

Advantage: Don't have to think about how to design your city.

Disadvantage: Unrealistic city.