Addressing Growth and Sprawl: Educational Tools and Resources Prepared for the: National Public Policy Education Conference September 21-24, 2003 Salt Lake City, Utah Stephan J. Goetz, Ph.D. Director, The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development and Professor of Agricultural and Regional Economics, Penn State University

Presentation based on: “Ten Things Members of Every Community (in the Northeast US) Need to Know About Land Use…” Edited by Stephan J. Goetz and Tim Kelsey, June 2003 Edited by Stephan J. Goetz and Tim Kelsey, June 2003 Available on The Northeast Center’s website Available on The Northeast Center’s website

1.No other region of the country faces greater pressure on its land base than the Northeast US. (The Northeast Center) The region has 22% of the population, but only 6.7% of the nation’s land area. Choose a comparable fact for your region (e.g., availability of water in the West).

2. Once traffic gridlock occurs in a community, it is almost always too late to do anything about it. (Brookings) And, traffic gridlock is growing across the nation And, traffic gridlock is growing across the nation Most cities cannot sprawl their way out of congestion Most cities cannot sprawl their way out of congestion The following examples are for cities in the North- east, but congestion cost patterns are similar elsewhere in the US The following examples are for cities in the North- east, but congestion cost patterns are similar elsewhere in the US

3.Planning is usually the only way in which unpleasant surprises related to land use can be avoided. (M. Dougherty) Planning: an orderly, open approach to determining local needs and wants, describing a vision of community’s desired future, setting goals, priorities, and taking action. Planning: an orderly, open approach to determining local needs and wants, describing a vision of community’s desired future, setting goals, priorities, and taking action. Zoning, capital improvements, and sub- division ordinances guide land use decisions. Zoning, capital improvements, and sub- division ordinances guide land use decisions. Source: T. Wilson and G. Blonde, Lay of the Land Land Use Education Program, 2002, U. of Wisconsin

an attempt to replace market forces or stop growth altogether an attempt to replace market forces or stop growth altogether –It is to manage future community development a magic bullet, or a tool of immediate change a magic bullet, or a tool of immediate change –It is a tool to foster long-term impacts static or only done once static or only done once the same as zoning the same as zoning Planning is not… Source: T. Wilson and G. Blonde, Lay of the Land Land Use Education Program, 2002, U. of Wisconsin

Questions behind planning… Is there something in your community that you want to: change? change? preserve? preserve? create? create? Source: T. Wilson and G. Blonde, Lay of the Land Land Use Education Program, 2002, U. of Wisconsin The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development

A good plan can… Control taxes and preserve or protect: farmland, private property rights, the environment, etc. Control taxes and preserve or protect: farmland, private property rights, the environment, etc. Guide and promote development Guide and promote development Lead to consistent decision making over time Lead to consistent decision making over time Most importantly: achieve your desired “vision” – what you want for the future Most importantly: achieve your desired “vision” – what you want for the future Source: T. Wilson and G. Blonde, Lay of the Land Land Use Education Program, 2002, U. of Wisconsin

Planning involves four basic questions for the community… 1. Where is it now? 2. How did it get there? 3. Where does it want to be? 4. How does it get there? Source: T. Wilson and G. Blonde, Lay of the Land Land Use Education Program, 2002, U. of Wisconsin Question: Are communities that plan more highly “developed”?

4.The smaller the unit of local government, the greater the potential local control of land use and planning... (Stanley Lemback) But, the fewer the resources available for planning, and the greater the staffing problems Under home rule, there are thousands of units of local government (townships, municipalities, etc.) Under home rule, there are thousands of units of local government (townships, municipalities, etc.) Local officials often serve on part-time, volunteer basis; turnover is high Local officials often serve on part-time, volunteer basis; turnover is high Thus, dealing with complex land use trade-offs can be a serious challenge in areas with home rule Thus, dealing with complex land use trade-offs can be a serious challenge in areas with home rule

5.Generally speaking, the nation’s food supply is at this time not threatened by land conversion to new housing development. (Heimlich and Anderson) Exceptions…

6.Compared to previous economic expansions, and given the amount of population growth during the last decade, developers are currently undersupplying new stocks of housing. (The Northeast Center) 1970s 1980s 1990s Population growth (mn.) New housing units (mn.) New Homes (per 100 popl.) But these homes are being build on larger lots

Housing affordability is a growing concern, especially in the Northeast  Housing affordability is a key measure of economic well-being  Gentrification is believed to be a growing problem  As population density rises, housing affordability tends to decline  Or, in areas with lower density, housing affordability is higher

7.There is no clear-cut relationship between land preservation efforts and the supply of housing. (Brookings) We also know little about the long-term effectiveness of farmland preservation programs. (L. Lynch)

8.Conventional cost of community services studies need to be used with caution – and they are often misused. (T. Kelsey) Median COCS per dollar of revenue raised Commercial/Industrial$0.27 Farm/Forest$0.36 Residential$1.15 Source: J. Freedgood, 2002 (AFT)

9.Some individuals claim that residential development is always beneficial to a community because of the increased tax dollars it brings; others claim costs of residential development are always negative because new school expenses offset any potential tax benefits. Neither assertion (stereotype) is in fact accurate. (T. Kelsey)

10. Property rights are granted to individuals by the community in which they reside. (D. Bromley)

Additional resources The Future of Agriculture in Your Community (T. Kelsey, T. Collins, K. Brasier) The Future of Agriculture in Your Community (T. Kelsey, T. Collins, K. Brasier) GIS and Your Community (O. Tunceli, T. Collins, S. Goetz) GIS and Your Community (O. Tunceli, T. Collins, S. Goetz) Extension Land Use Programming Workshop Proceedings, May 2003 Extension Land Use Programming Workshop Proceedings, May 2003 (S. Goetz and T. Kelsey) Land Use/Land Cover Mapping Capability Land Use/Land Cover Mapping Capability Land Use Web Resources (T. Collins, P. Marshall) Land Use Web Resources (T. Collins, P. Marshall)