Print
EmailAPA’s Growing Smart: the Good and the Bad
NAHB Opinion
| Gary Garczynski |
The American Planning Association’s Growing Smart Legislative Guidebook could prompt states to review and change planning and land-use laws. The guidebook covers many things affecting a builder’s day-to-day activities: processing development approvals; vested rights; impact fees; urban growth boundaries; and who can sue to stop a project.
The application of these planning ideas could profoundly affect home builders and buyers. Some planning options presented in the guidebook could help builders and developers. Conversely, some could be harmful.
Smart growth requires a smart process to implement what a community seeks. When citizens seek to use land in strict conformity to a community’s master plan, they have a right to expect a process that facilitates prompt approval and doesn’t allow individuals who are not directly and adversely affected to stop the process.
A basic philosophical premise of smart growth should be that comprehensive plans are implemented rather than nullified in piecemeal fashion through the development review process. Issues settled during the debate on the comprehensive plan should not be reopened if the plan and the process are to be legitimate.
This important aspect of smart growth is not accorded proper analysis in the guidebook and is another reason to be alert and engaged in this growing issue.
More like this
RELATED ARTICLES
Properties with superb water views come at a price. Building a home on the coast, especially the barrier islands off South Carolina, means enhancing its resistance to big...
In looking ahead to 2013, we asked builders who placed in the middle of the pack in our survey about the lessons they learned from the downturn, and how they are applying...
For this issue Pat O’Toole, our venerable publisher, asked me to write about the best business models among those home builders in what is often termed the second tier of...
Search Our Buyer's Guide
Reference Library
Professional Remodeler’s annual Market Leaders list, which identifies the top...
With demand for custom design, remodeling, and renovations at its highest level since 2005, ...
Normandy Remodeling converts confined kitchen into sprawling galley.
Each year, the National Kitchen and Bath Association surveys its members to identify the latest...
Each year, the National Kitchen and Bath Association surveys its members to identify the latest...
