From the Urban Land Institute: The New Politics of Planning

New title from ULI compares old land planning methods with new innovations

News Release
February 18, 2009
HousingZone

With the U.S. population expected to reach 350 million by 2025, states and localities are recognizing that how they manage growth and development will affect their economic prospects, their ability to draw immigrants, and the quality of life for residents, says a new publication from the Urban Land Institute. The New Politics of Planning: How States and Local Governments are Coming to Common Ground on Reshaping America’s Built Environment compares old land planning methods with new innovations, chronicling land use controls from previous decades and analyzing how states are changing their perspective.

Co-authored by Arthur C. Nelson, presidential professor and director of metropolitan research at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City; and Robert Lang, professor and director of the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech in Alexandria, Va.; the publication provides facts on past and current planning and environmental efforts by states. It also examines 1) voting patterns on raising taxes for transit, open space and related smart growth initiatives; 2) increasing state protections of private property rights; 3) the increased use and impact of land trusts that restrict land development; and 4) the rising involvement of special districts and private governance in the land planning process.

Detailed case studies of planning activities in six states – Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin, Virginia and Arizona – show how each one has addressed issues such as public facilities, transportation, open space, affordable housing and economic development. “Despite apparent differences in political culture and location, they appear to be moving toward common ground in certain respects,” notes the book.

The New Politics of Planning: How States and Local Governments are Coming to Common Ground on Reshaping America’s Built Environment, (978-0-87420-124-4; Urban Land Institute, 2009) is available everywhere books are sold and through the Urban Land Institute’s online bookstore at www.uli.org. The price is $19.95 for ULI members and $24.95 for nonmembers.

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