The New Politics of Planning How States and Local Governments Are Coming to Common Ground on Reshaping America's Built Environment

by Nelson, Arthur C.; Lang, Robert E.

• ISBN13: 9780874201284
• ISBN10: 0874201284
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-09-01
• Publisher: Urban Land Institute

Summary

Chronicling land-use controls from the past generation, this analysis describes recent changes in state perspective toward managing community growth. Case studies of six states, representing diverse political cultures and locations, are analyzed in regard to how they have dealt with issues such as public facilities, transportation, open space, affordable housing, and economic development. Showing how other states are handling newsworthy matters such as sustainability and infrastructure to improve the quality of life in communities the examination provides perspectives on many issues, including voter willingness to raise taxes for transit, open space, and related smart growth initiatives; increasing state protections of private property rights; and the rise in special districts and private governance.

Author Biography

Arthur C. Nelson is the Presidential Professor and director of metropolitan research at the University of Utah and the author of The Social Impacts of Urban Containment. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Robert E. Lang is a professor and director of the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech and the author of Boomburbs: The Rise of America's Accidental Cities and Redefining Urban and Suburban America. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.