Contact: John Warbach, PZC, (517) 886-0555, Warbach@pzcenter.com; Sarah Nicholls, Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources, (517) 353-5190, Ext. 118, nicho210@msu.edu; or Russ White, University Relations, (517) 432-0923, whiterus@msu.edu

4/27/2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University’s Travel, Tourism and Recreation Resource Center is teaming with Planning and Zoning Center Inc. of Lansing to investigate how land development professionals can increase the implementation of what’s known as “smart growth” principles in Michigan.

Research suggests that the urbanization of land in Michigan is occurring rapidly and that land is being consumed about eight times faster than population growth. “Smart growth” encourages a more sustainable approach to land-use planning and development through the implementation of various principles that attempt to protect critical resources while allowing necessary growth.

According to the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council’s 2003 report, “Michigan’s Land, Michigan’s Future,” key principles for Michigan include development that include walkable neighborhoods and mixed-land uses; direction of development toward existing communities while preserving open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental areas; fostering distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place; making development decisions predictable, cost-effective and fair; encouragement of community and stakeholder cooperation; provision of a variety of transportation choices; and, creation of a range of housing opportunities and choices.

The project involves surveying representatives of six land development professions – civil engineering, surveying, architecture, landscape architecture, planning and law – in order to document perceived impediments to implementing smart growth principles and to identify ways to overcome these impediments.

Preliminary research finds that development professionals perceive a number of key barriers to increased implementation of smart growth techniques. These include existing zoning practices and professional training that encourage the separation of compatible as well as incompatible land uses; individual jurisdiction planning that ignores regional issues; development so dependent on the automobile that it is difficult to design attractive, walkable communities; and local officials unwilling to deal with development trends that are changing the character of their communities and driving up the cost of providing services.

The project is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s People and Land Program and is titled “Overcoming Impediments to Smart Growth: Finding Ways for Land Development Professionals to Help Achieve Sustainability.”