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Think Tank Advocates Education on Growth Issues

“In most cities, virtually every significant proposal for infill development meets with opposition,” writes Gabriel Metcalf, deputy director of the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR), in an article for the Urban Land Institute (ULI). “Things that do make new development smarter from an environmental standpoint — like reducing parking or increasing density — often bring community opposition at such a fevered pitch that even the most supportive elected officials run for cover.”

SPUR seeks to bridge the communications gap between the development community and  no-growth activists.

In a book explaining how to educate the public about the benefits of smart growth, the group boils the process down to four essential steps:

• Describe the patterns that make up the city. Explain why certain neighborhoods are valued and the planning that brought them into being.
• Show how these patterns can be extended. Explain how good planning can help transform and revitalize blighted neighborhoods.
• Make the case for why the city needs to change. Explain what will happen if the city does not meet housing demand. Discuss the importance of community values such as diversity, tolerance and social justice, and explain how city planning affects these issues.
• Express all of these concepts as policies advanced through the city’s master plan. Present it in a way that clearly explains to residents how the city can evolve in ways that will enhance its livability and vitality.

BuilderBooks.com offers a variety of land development publications online, including enviromental and green building publications. To view or purchase these publications, click here.

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