Many planning commissions, through the comprehensive plan and other tools, seek to better manage and direct the timing and location of growth in their community. These articles look at different aspects of growth management.
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Smart growth promises less sprawl, reduced congestion, cleaner air, fewer wasted tax dollars, and revitalized neighborhoods. Yet advocates for low-income communities fear it may also lead to rising housing prices, displacing lower-income workers and their families and small businesses.
Designating areas where essential services, particularly sewer service, can be used is one of the opportunities local planners have to direct growth to locations that reinforce community goals. Kate Lampton explores how her town developed a sewer allocation ordinance.
A growing number of communities are recognizing the close relationship between transportation planning decisions and land use. Transportation planner Whit Blanton reports on how one metropolitan area has begun to put land use and transportation in balance.
One of the most important, but often overlooked, contributors to sprawl is the construction of large educational facilities in outlying, undeveloped areas. Edward McMahon takes a look at some of the causes of “school sprawl” — and at some efforts to combat it.
Eben Fodor, author of Better, Not Bigger, outlines six steps individuals and communities can take to combat sprawl. But real estate economist (the late) Wayne Lemmon argues that low-density suburban development can be a good thing.
Transfer of development rights offers communities a way of saving environmentally sensitive areas, farmlands, historic landmarks, and other important resources. A look at how TDR programs work, and what makes some more successful than others.
Sprawl is causing some of the costliest problems America faces. But, argues Edward McMahon, several myths have made it more difficult for us to come to grips with sprawl.
Oregon planning consultant Eben Fodor takes a critical look at growth.
Discussion focuses on the role of the planning commission on growth and development issues; new commissioner orientation; and communications with the public.
How planning commissioners can come to grips with superstore development, and reach an outcome that the community wants. By Constance Beaumont, the author of Better Models for Superstores: Alternatives to Big-Box Sprawl.
Sprawl and low density development are closely related, argues Brent Thompson, a planning commissioner from Ashland, Oregon.
