= = = Highlight = = 
Michigan Republican Governor John Engler replaces Maryland Democratic Governor Parris N. Glendening as the chairman of the National Governors Association at the 93rd annual meeting in Providence. Governor Glendening, has accepted the position as the top post on the Council of State Governments, "where he is expected to continue efforts to promote smart growth to other states." For more information: http://www.nga.org

= = = State and Local News = = =
Affordable Housing
Colorado
Denver’s Affordable Housing Task Force, appointed by Mayor Webb, has proposed an ordinance requiring developers of townhouses, houses and condos to make some units more affordable.
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,53%257E118401,00.html

Virginia
Government mandated affordable housing units look like the single-family estates that sell for nearly a million.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22253-2001Aug16.html

Discount Chain Stores
Maryland
MD State Department of Planning opposes plan for new Wal-Mart Store.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54039-2001Aug23.html

Farmland
Maryland
They call it agritourism.  As farmers discover how to market their products directly to consumers, planners hope to copy the model to preserve green landscape from suburban sprawl. 
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/howard/bal-te.ho.farm20aug20.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dhoward

Growth Boundary
North Carolina
The Greensboro, NC City Council unanimously approves a growth boundary for the city.  The boundary includes areas that the city can someday annex - and therefore tax. That means as the city grows, newcomers would pay a share of the cost to expand streets, police and fire protection and other city services.
http://www.news-record.com/news/local/gso/gsocouncil22.htm

Higher Density Development
North Carolina
Affordability, location and family circumstances come into play in Charlotte’s second condominium boom.
http://www.charlotte.com/observer/business/pub/smithcol0826.htm

Technology
Connecticut
With the help of the Internet and GIS, local officials are learning how to control land use for future generations.
http://www.govtech.net/magazine/story.phtml?id=3030000000002487.0

Unions
Philadelphia
Construction unions monopolize work done inside the city, raising the cost of residential construction by as much as 50 percent compared to the suburbs.http://dailynews.philly.com/content/daily_news/2001/08/28/opinion/HUGH28E.htm

= = = National News = = =
NY Times Editorial Better Protection for Farmers and Their Land by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Rep.Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD). http://www.nytimes.com/pages/opinion/index.html

The Great American Station Foundation is now accepting nominations for its 2001 Most Endangered Station list. This list calls national attention to threatened stations, giving local station preservation advocates additional credibility and leverage. This year, local advocate groups or governments can also receive a $1000 grant to help in their efforts to save the station. Nominations are due by September 21, 2001.
For a full application go to http://www.stationfoundation.org or call 505-426-8055.

= = = New Releases = = =
The Housing Assistance Council's Why Housing Matters – 2000 Report on the State of the Nation's Rural Housing is available at  http://www.ruralhome.org/pubs/hsganalysis/snrh/why/whyhousingmatters.pdf

Solimar Research Group has released a “research brief” on the loss of farmland and urbanization of land in Ventura County, CA, based on new Census population figures and new California Department of Conservation land use statistics.  The brief finds that Ventura County is doing a good job of accommodating population growth by using land efficiently. The county is losing farmland very slowly, and -- counter to the national trend – is "densifying," in the sense that the county's urbanization of land is proceeding more slowly than the growth in population. This research brief is posted at http://www.solimar.org and http://www.cp-dr.com . 
In addition, you can read more about the Department of Conservation statistics and our interpretation in the Ventura County edition of the Los Angeles Times at
http://www.latimes.com/editions/ventura/la-000068017aug22.story?coll=la%2Deditions%2Dventura.

Bullfrog Films presents two new sprawl films available for purchase Save Our Land,  Save Our Towns.  Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Hylton explores logical reasons why America’s towns can be rebuilt and its countryside preserved from strip malls and subdivisions.  Filmed in PA, England, Oregon and North Carolina.

Store Wars; When Wal-Mart Comes to Town. This film explores the impact of discount chain stores on American towns and cities, and our society as a whole.  To order copies of the films, please contact Bullfrog Films at: http://www.bullfrogfilms.com or e-mail: video@bullfrogfilms.com

Affordable Housing
Michigan
Thousands in Metro Detroit seek federal funds to help them pay for housing. Rents have as much as doubled in Metro Detroit in the past five years.
http://www.detnews.com/2001/realestate/0108/07/a01-263140.htm

New York 
A Chelsea, NY apartment complex is the first to be financed under a city-sponsored taxable bond program that offers developers quicker, if somewhat more expensive, access to financing. (“Residential Real Estate; 356 Units Under New City Bond Plan”, 9/3/01) http://www.nytimes.com

Washington
Despite the slump in the economy housing is still expensive in Seattle, pushing homebuyers father into the suburbs, ultimately creating more congestion for the already strained infrastructure. 
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/business/34213_house07.shtml

Air Quality
Chicago
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency declared Tuesday and Wednesday ozone
action days, the 10th and 11th such days this summer. During such days, the agency encourages people to use public transportation, avoid using gasoline-powered recreational vehicles, and postpone refueling cars.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-0108080308aug08.story?coll=chi%2Dnews%2Dhed

Washington D.C.
"Code Red" in Washington D.C. due to heavy air pollution and a high level of humidity and high temperatures will make it feel like 100 degrees, as a result, some Metrobus routes are offering free rides. Check out this link for a list of free routes. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45396-2001Aug7.html

Ballot Initiative
California
Orange County supervisors deadlocked Tuesday on whether to order an appeal of a judge's ruling that voided petitions on the Great Park ballot initiative.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/communities/la-000064409aug08.story

Land Use Planning 
Minnesota
Douglas County, MN unveils draft land use plan that includes county residents input. 
http://web.duluthnews.com/content/duluth/2001/08/03/local/du_LAND0803.htm

North Carolina
The city of Greensboro moves ahead with growth plan. Officials hope the plan will be complete and adopted by the council by late 2002 or early 2003. http://www.news-record.com/news/local/gso/compplan06.htm

Schools
California
Conflict between the increasing need for more Ventura County, CA schools and the decreasing land available for them has prompted county officials to plan two public forums on the problem.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-000062957aug02.story

Transportation
Georgia
Georgia will rely on federal bond program GARVEE -Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles- to help pay for transportation plan. http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/today/business_b3e6a3b522c6617e00ac.html

Missouri
Kansas City voters rejected a $793 million light-rail transit system.  Mayor hints at possible light-rail vote next year. 
http://www.kcstar.com/item/pages/home.pat,local/3acce14a.807,.html

New York
New York city public transportation in the 1990's saw for the first time in 50 years more growth in riders than those who chose to drive cars, which will increase pressure to expand services to accommodate the number of riders.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/08/nyregion/08TRAN.html?searchpv=nytToday

= = = National  News= = = 
New Strategy Needed to Preserve Farms, Forests, and Ranches, Governors Say.
A new report released by the National Governors Association, outlines the benefits to private landowners of working land who want federal assistance with conservation efforts, and proposes program and policy changes that would provide better benefits. http://www.nga.org/nga/newsRoom/1,1169,C_PRESS_RELEASE^D_2430,00.html

Census Bureau Releases 2000 Supplemental Survey
In Michigan only 83.7 percent of state residents surveyed in the U.S. Census Bureau's 2000 supplemental survey reported that they drove alone to work each day.  Only 1.14 percent reported that they used public transportation. 
http://www.detnews.com/2001/census/0108/06/a01-262403.htm
Census Bureau data is available at: http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/c2ss.html

“Green Banking; Are people who live near public transit better credit risks?”
A critical look at Location-Efficient Mortgage (LEM), a smart growth program that makes loans more available to homeowners living in close proximity to public transportation, subsidized by several groups including Fannie Mae, has several fundamental flaws in it's design, the most obvious is not requiring those who qualify, to use public transit. http://www.Forbes.com

Reason Public Policy Institute’s Sam Staley discusses the latest 'Sprawl Index', that urban
decay can't be blamed on suburbs, and that people ought to have a right to more room if they want it."
RealPlayer is needed. 
http://www.jerrybowyer.com/audio.php?id=303
To find out more about the Reason Foundation and Sam Staley please visit our Communications page at: http://www.sprawlwatch.org/communications

= = = State and Local News = = =
Affordable Housing
Colorado
An op-ed piece in the Denver Post opposes the proposed city sales tax to subsidize affordable housing, putting more pressure on already struggling small business owners, and potentially pushing more jobs out to the suburbs.
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,417%257E73416,00.html

Air Quality
California
The state regulators, who insisted on increased community input, did not approve the Bay Area's clean air plan.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/leads/stories_one/airboard_20010727.htm

Illinois
Chicago's second "ozone action" in a row- cars in the Chicago area contribute to about 40 percent of the problem.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0108010288aug01.story?coll=chi%2Dnews%2Dhed

Annexation
Nevada
Las Vegas city officials submitted a request to annex 82 square miles, effectively doubling the size of the city.  U.S. Wildlife officials are surprised and concerned by the proposal because half of the land requested lies in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, home to 79 threatened plant and animal species, protected by the Multispecies Habitat Conservation Plan. 

Ballot Initiative
California
Orange County supporters of the urban park at the former El Toro Marine base are forced to restart their signature drive. 
http://www.latimes.com/editions/orange/la-000062610aug01.story?coll=la%2Deditions%2Dorange

Community Planning
Florida
Smart Growth advocates and environmentalists enjoy a victory as the Sustainable Communities Demonstration Project, initially created to give local authorities more control over land-use, but actually used to bypass environmental protection, recently expired and was not granted renewal.
http://www.sptimes.com/News/073001/Pasco/Growth_in_Lutz_faces_.shtml

Georgia
Atlanta's Regional Commission has set up an incentive program called the Livable Centers Initiative that provides grants for infrastructure and planning costs to growing cities and towns.  Funding for the Living Centers Initiative comes in part from the recently announced state transportation budget.
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/wednesday/opinion_b376b93da33d6292007b.html

Virginia
Admittedly "a part of the sprawl problem", America Online executives still criticize "smart growth " plans for the county, arguing that housing affordability will decreases, traffic problems will worsen and business will be hampered with strict environmental policies. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1435-2001Jul28.html

Endangered Species Act
Washington
In Washington the Pilchuck Audubon Society and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility filed suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service using the Endangered Species Act, in an attempt to block the construction of an Everett Highway project that would further threaten the Puget Sound chinook salmon. 
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/local/31882_sierra19.shtml

Transportation
California
The Oakland City Council unanimously approved a two- year contract with City 
CarShare, now operating in San Francisco.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/07/27/MN1980174.DTL

Georgia
Atlanta Regional Commission members threaten to delay projects included in the governor's five-year transit plan, frustrated by disregard of local level needs.
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/thursday/local_news_b3f5ab73a5997008002d.html

Illinois
Chicago's northwest suburbs public transportation network has reached a crisis point.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0108010311aug01.story

Nevada
Las Vegas, in response to increasing transit demands and an attempt to make public transit more attractive, has ordered computer-guided buses developed by the French companies IRISBUS and MATRA Transport International.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/26/technology/circuits/26NEXT.html?searchpv=nytToday

= = = National News = = =
Farmland 
As Congress considers a new bill on farmer subsidies and farmland protection Environmental Defense released a report that reveals more than $2 billion of conservation program subsidies for farmers await funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Meanwhile, thousands of farmers, who want to protect wildlife, cleanup water pollution and prevent farmland from being consumed by sprawl, are being rejected entirely.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-000059386jul20.story

Environmental Defense Report "Losing Ground"
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/pubs/NewsReleases/2001/Jul/i_USDArejects.html

= = =New Releases = = = 
A new report released by the National Governor's Association New Community Design to the Rescue, explains how states and communities can encourage New Community Design -- mixed-use, mixed-income, walkable development that is distinctly different from sprawl -- by eliminating institutional barriers in the marketplace. http://www.nga.org/center/divisions/1,1188,C_ISSUE_BRIEF^D_2344,00.html

The new Brooking's Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy survey, Job  Sprawl: Employment Location in U.S. Metropolitan Areas  maps the new American employment landscape, using zip-code employment files to map the location of jobs in the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. http://www.brookings.edu/urban

The Center for Neighborhood Technology has created a new version of their Neighborhood Early Warning System (NEWS) indicator program, designed to monitor real estate trends and to more effectively counteract housing abandonment, commercial decline and financial disinvestments in Chicago's inner city communities. http://www.newschicago.org/

Redesigning Streetscapes: The Sierra Club's Restore the Core Campaign has added computer generated images to their web site of how unattractive streets can be made more interesting. These images are available on: http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/community/transformations/index.asp.

= = =Employment Opportunities = = =
Sierra Club Washington, DC office seeks Washington, D.C. Sprawl Representative.  Inquiries should be sent to Senior WDC Director and Environmental Quality Team Leader- Ed.Hopkins@sierraclub.org.  Click here for more information, http://www.sierraclub.org/jobs/WDC_sprawl_rep.htm