= = = State and Local News = = =
Affordable Housing
Virginia
The chairman of Loudoun County's affordable housing committee has urged supervisors to reverse last year's vote to shrink the affordable housing program and stop excessively taxing program participants.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6258-2001Oct17.html

Religious Community
Pennsylvania
The Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network a grassroots network made up of about 30 congregations and faith based groups has gone public. After building relationships, the network hopes to use its multiracial, urban and suburban congregations to tackle everything from poverty to voter registration. The task forces created by the network have researched issues such as transportation, housing, education, economic development and criminal justice.
http://www.post-gazette.com/neigh_city/20011019network1019p3.asp

Transportation
Atlanta
Selling space in Atlanta's thus underused HOV lanes is just one idea stemming from a concept known as value pricing.  A 33-member task force of state legislators, city and county officials, transportation providers and the business community will immediately begin studying this and other concepts and report recommendations on which ideas, if any, make sense for metro Atlanta, said Catherine Ross, executive director of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/today/metro_b36dc5fc17186281008e.html

Atlanta’s three year transportation plan faces crucial vote today (10/24). Some object, but the $4.1 billion program is expected to pass ARC.
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/today/business_b33d9c8ee0f8013f005a.html

Michigan
Detroit’s $2-billion mass transit proposal whose success depends on regional consensus is losing support from two key suburban leaders, placing it in jeopardy. http://www.detnews.com/2001/metro/0110/22/a01-324489.htm

Utah
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) expects to pay Union Pacific $150 million for existing rail tracks for commuter trains between Ogden and Brigham City.  The money would also give ownership of other rail tracks and options to buy other existing rail corridors. The move to preserve rail corridors also is part of an emerging joint transit-highway development program along Utah's most populous commercial corridor, one that has 1.7 million of the state's 2.2 million people.
http://www.sltrib.com/10182001/utah/141235.htm

Water Quality
California
In a far-reaching attempt to reduce the largest source of water pollution into San Francisco Bay, government regulators ruled  (10/17) that South Bay builders must remove motor oil, pesticides and other contaminants from storm runoff before letting it flow into the bay.
http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/local/docs/runoff18a.htm

= = = New Releases = = =
The Brookings Institution’s Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy releases a new report,  “Tracking the Progress of Welfare Reform Quickly: A Model for Measuring Neighborhood Health and Change”. This study describes the Milwaukee neighborhood indicators project, which uses a variety of geographically specific data sources from state, county, and city agencies to provide a more timely set of indicators on the economic health of Milwaukee families and neighborhoods. http://www.brookings.edu/urban

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation is pleased to announce a two-part “Experts Online” series, “Bringing the Power of Design to Affordable Housing”. Maria Gutierrez, Vice President of LISC's Organizational Development Initiative and Deane Evans, American Institute of Architects, will conduct a tour and discussion of the Affordable Housing Design Advisor (www.designadvisor.org) and explore key issues in more depth. These sessions will take place on October 25th and November 14th from 2 to 3:30pm. For detailed information about these sessions and to register, click http://www.liscnet.org

= = = Highlight= = = 
On 10/9, California Governor Gray Davis signed into law SB 221.  SB 221 increases the linkage between land use and water planning by prohibiting approval of a subdivision of more than 500 dwelling units without written verification from the applicable public water system that a sufficient water supply is available or a specified finding is made by the local agency that sufficient water supplies are, or will be, available prior to completion of the project. 
Hailed by proponents as a rational way to regulate growth in arid, populous California, the bill by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) is the toughest yet enacted to link development and water supplies. After long opposing the legislation, the state's Building Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Realtors withdrew their opposition and signed on to it earlier this year. The governor also signed a companion bill, by Sen. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) that requires cities and counties to consult water agencies early in the planning stages of a development.

The sponsor, the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) has found that in only a small percentage of approvals of large subdivisions is the source of water addressed in the planning. http://www.ebmud.com/

For more history on the bill please link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-000080783oct10.story

= = =State and Local News= = = 
Affordable Housing
California
A coalition of developers and businesses has proposed financial incentives for builders to help ease the affordable-housing crunch in Southern California. The coalition proposes that money for the fund come from city, state and federal assistance, taxes generated from the transfer of documents in real estate transactions, and from business license taxes. They also recommend tax credits, direct grants and low-interest loans for builders of low-income housing.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-000082383oct16.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dbusiness

Leglisation
Georgia
Georgia Regional Transportation Authority officials are seeking public input on the agency's proposed policy for evaluating large Atlanta-area developments. The proposal was released for its last 30-day review period. The GRTA board of directors plans to adopt the process at its Nov. 14 meeting. What is outlined in the proposal will guide how GRTA assesses large developments in metro Atlanta for their impact on traffic and air quality. 
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/today/business_b3ace740b39320f800f8.html

Michigan
The Michigan state House on 10/16 approved legislation to allow more densely clustered development if open space and natural resources are preserved. The three-bill package, would require townships to establish an "open space preservation" zoning ordinance. The measure would allow a developer to cluster homes on a piece of land to protect at least 50 percent of the open space.
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw42902_20011016.htm

Historic Preservation
Georgia
Georgia state preservationists warn that the loss of historic buildings appears to be increasing. Historic Preservation Division officials now estimate that an average 700 historic buildings are being lost each year in Georgia. "These old structures give us a sense of place, a link to the past --- and we are losing thousands of them," says Richard Cloues of the Department of Natural Resources' Historic Preservation Division. 
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/today/business_b3acd7bfb39370d70088.html

Religious Community
Michigan
Prompted by economic, cultural, and demographic trends that are causing rising costs and declining conditions in urban and suburban parishes, the influential Detroit Archdiocese this month is launching a multi-year campaign to curb Michigan’s sprawling patterns of development. The campaign began 10/15. Arlin Wasserman, the Michigan Land Institute's policy director, believes the church’s involvement could prove decisive to the growing Smart Growth movement in Michigan.
http://www.mlui.org/projects/growthmanagement/sprawl/archdiocese.asp

Transportation
New Jersey
In an interesting twist on transit oriented development, the Great American Station Foundation's station of the month features Maplewood, New Jersey's transit concierge program.  The program, sponsored by the local business community, helps busy commuters cope with the stresses of daily life by providing a "concierge" to link them with the services provided by area businesses, from groceries and shopping, to cleaning and flowers.  Check out the case study of this innovative program at:
http://www.stationfoundation.org/HTML/index.htm

Virginia
Transportation and education are crucial issues in the Virginia Governor’s race.  The Democratic candidate supports a referendum allowing voters to raise the sales tax to pay for transportation projects. The Republican gubernatorial candidate  is opposed to allowing the transportation referendum to go before voters.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37108-2001Oct10.html

Zoning
Maryland
The state of Maryland is considering “appropriate action” against Carroll County after a new zoning law that allows landowners to develop one residential lot for every 3 acres - instead of every 20 acres, as is normally required under agricultural zoning was enacted. 
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/carroll/bal-ca.zoning12oct12.story

= = =National News == =
The new head of the Federal Highway Administration, Arizonan Mary Peters has said the era of building new roads may be over and that the emphasis now is to make existing roads work better. In Ms. Peters four-year tenure as director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, the focus was on completing projects rather than planning new ones.
http://www.arizonarepublic.com/arizona/articles/1009peters09.html

Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Rep. Don Young (R-AK) has introduced a new high-speed rail bill, H.R. 2950. The bill would provide $36 billion in bonds to states over ten years and $35 billion in loans to railroads. The bonds would be federal tax exempt and would not count toward the annual state bond limit of $225 million. H.R. 2950 also provides $35 million a year through 2009 for high-speed rail corridor planning and technical development, including capital investments such as engines and rail cars.  The bill is an alternative to the High Speed Rail Investment Act (S. 250 /H.R. 2329), which would provide $12 billion in bond authority to Amtrak for
high-speed rail. 
The online version of 'From Washington' can be found on the APA website http://www.planning.org/govt/thehill.htm

= = = New Releases = = =
Two new reports from the Brookings Institution’s Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy, Expanding Affordable Housing Through Inclusionary Zoning: Lessons From The Washington Metropolitan Area. This paper examines the effectiveness of inclusionary zoning programs as tools for not only providing affordable housing, but also ensuring that such housing is built throughout a jurisdiction. Focusing particularly on the Montgomery County, MD ordinance and those found in three other Greater Washington area jurisdictions, this paper: highlights the effectiveness of inclusionary zoning in several jurisdictions; examines the obstacles facing new and old ordinances alike; and identifies where opportunities for change exist to ensure the program's longevity and productivity.

 The New York City Investment Fund: An Emerging Model for Corporate Engagement in Urban Development Since its inception in 1996, the New York City Reinvestment Fund has invested millions of dollars to help stimulate business development and create jobs in the City. This article traces the evolution of the Fund, and discusses the opportunities and challenges it encounters in its efforts to generate profit while producing positive social outcomes. 

= = = Highlight = = = 
Colorado lawmakers closed out their special session this past Tuesday (10/9) killing one of the key growth planning proposals that Gov. Bill Owens set forth in a package to curb urban sprawl. The bill would have required larger cities and counties to enact laws making growth planning mandatory. State lawmakers did give final approval to a plan that would allow all cities and counties to charge impact fees to developers over the protests of municipal representatives and environmentalists. While the law extends impact fee authority to a greater number of cities and counties it lessens the existing ability of home rule cities to make growth pay its own way. The proposal now moves to Owens for his expected signature. 
http://www.gazette.com/daily/loc3a.html
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/legislature/article/0,1299,DRMN_37_843572,00.html

The House of Representatives defeated the Boehlert-Kind-Gilchrest-Dingell Conservation Amendment (H.R. 2375) 200-226 and approved the full House Farm Bill, (H.R. 2646), 291-120. The Boehlert-Kind-Gilchrest-Dingell amendment (H.R. 2375) would have increased federal funds to improve water quality, help combat sprawling development, and boost funding for urban forestry and greenspace. The Farm Bill provides and opportunity to support smart growth and growth management at the federal level. The bill now goes to the Senate.
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=politicsnews&StoryID=269405#

Los Angeles Times Editorial: Lean Times, Fat Farm Bill
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-000080703oct10.story

= = = State and Local News = = =
California
Three bills intended to create a tighter link between land use planning and water supply topped the land use measures approved by the California State Legislature this year. http://www.cp-dr.com

Georgia
Two real estate associations filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday accusing the city of Atlanta of unfairly and illegally disbursing millions of dollars in fees collected from developers to offset the impact development has on neighboring areas. http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/today/metro_b3bbdedfb1a5007e004e.html

Maryland
A new zoning law in Carroll County, MD allows landowners to develop one residential lot for every 3 acres - instead of every 20 acres, as is normally required under agricultural zoning. The new law seems to encourage development on farmland when Maryland and states across the country are fighting to limit building to areas that have been developed, said John W. Frece, communications director for the Governor's Office of Smart Growth.
http://www.sunspot.net/business/realestate/bal-ca.zoning08oct08.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dheadlines

North Carolina
Leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly's smart growth commission will try to refocus the state's attention on issues such as traffic, downtown redevelopment and open space by releasing its long-overdue final report and creating a permanent committee of legislators to carry out its recommendations.
http://www.newsobserver.com/monday/news/nc/Story/827544p-818379c.html

Oregon
Oregonians In Action's Executive Director Larry George filed initiative petitions #124 and 125, which would allow real estate developers to build single-family dwellings on each lot in farmland regardless of the impact such development would have on nearby farmers or the farm economy. The proposals would likely authorize thousands of new houses on farmland.

Read the initiatives:
http://sos-venus.sos.state.or.us:8080/elec_srch/web_irr_search.search_form

= = = New Releases= = =
A recently released (9/01) GAO report examines the federal role in supporting Bus Rapid Transit and compares the capital costs, operating costs and performance characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit and Light Rail Systems. The report also describes other advantages and disadvantages of Bus Rapid Transit and Light Rail.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01984.pdf

A University of Kentucky study estimates what it would cost a family of four if 1,000 new residents moved into its home county and the government there had to provide more services, such as police and fire protection. The study was commissioned by Gov. Paul Patton's Smart Growth Task Force and based in part on how much the counties' per-capita costs to provide services increased between 1987 and 1997.
http://www.kypost.com/2001/oct/04/growth100401.html

= = =Highlight= = =
The House of Representatives plans to bring the Farm Bill to the floor for a vote on October 4. In an effort to increase conservation funding in the farm bill, Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) and Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and John Dingell (D-MI) will offer H.R. 2375 to the Conservation title of the Farm Bill. The Boehlert-Kind-Gilchrest-Dingell amendment (H.R. 2375) would boost federal funds to improve water quality, help combat sprawling development, and boost funding for urban forestry and greenspace. The Farm Bill provides and opportunity to support smart growth and growth management at the federal level.

To see how much more conservation funding your state and district would receive under the Conservation Amendment compared to the Combest Farm Bill alone, visit 
http://www.ewg.org/pub/home/reports/farmsub2001/reform/

= = =State and Local News= = =
Affordable Housing
California
The four most expensive counties in the nation to rent or buy housing are in the Bay Area, according to a new report "Out of Reach, America's Growing Wage-Rent Disparity" released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. They are Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara. The top four least affordable states include: 1) California 2) District of Columbia 3)New Jersey 4) Massachusetts. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/stories_loc_break/hothousing_20011002.htm

For more information about the National Low Income Housing Coalition please visit: http://www.nlihc.org

Ballot Initative
California
Superior Court Judge James Richman has rejected a lawsuit that challenged a 2000 ballot measure limiting growth in Alameda County's unincorporated areas, preserving a victory  environmentalists won at the ballot box last November. The decision denied motions by the developers that Measure D violated state housing law while also unfairly decreasing the value of private property. Richman ruled the lawsuit lacked the legal merit to proceed.
http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/local/docs/measured02a.htm

Washington
An initiative has been filed to dissolve the King, Snohomish and Pierce counties mass-transit authority- Sound Transit.  If the 197,734 signatures are collected by the end of the year the measure will go to the Legislature next year.  If passed, it will be voted on in November.  Sound Transit has three major programs: express bus service, the Sounder train that runs between Seattle and Tacoma, and the proposed light-rail line. 

Transportation
Georgia
The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce has become a leading business organization in the Southeast pushing for high-speed rail. It helped form the Southeastern Economic Alliance, a group of 14 chambers of commerce from six Southern states. Alliance leaders are pushing for a high-speed rail triangle connecting Washington, Savannah and Atlanta with extensions to Jacksonville, Chattanooga and Birmingham.
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/today/business_b38bc4a9a256d194006b.html

California
The Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Development (BAASD) has launched a Regional Livability Footprint Project to facilitate regional consensus on how the "Ten Commitments to Action" in the Draft Compact for a Sustainable Bay Area relate to land use. An extensive public participation process is underway to reach regional consensus and generate support for a "regional livability footprint" - a preferred land use pattern that will inform how the Bay Area could grow smarter and more sustainable over the next 20 years. 
For more information on how to get involved, contact the Alliance at 510/464-7978 or FootprintBAA@BayAreaAlliance.org. 
Or visit www.abag.ca.gov/planning/smartgrowth/timeline.html. 

= = =New Releases= = =
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released a new publication, "Geometric Design Practices for European Roads", which offers insight into an innovative technique that is growing in popularity, context-sensitive design. The publication, produced by the agency's Office of International Programs, provides a summary of findings from the International Scanning Tour for Roadway Geometric Design.  Among the practices the U.S. delegation found potentially transferable to the United States are public involvement in project planning; self-explaining, self-enforcing roads; design flexibility; area-wide traffic calming measures; intersection control through
roundabouts; and integration of bicyclists and pedestrians.

To access the full report on the FHWA Web site, go to:
http://www.international.fhwa.dot.gov/geometric_design/Geometric_Design2.htm

The Victoria Transport Policy Institute Online Encyclopedia is being significantly expanded and updated. This is a unique and comprehensive resource to help transportation professionals identify and evaluate innovative solutions to transportation problems. The Encyclopedia now has more than 75 chapters with hundreds of pages of text and thousands of Internet links. It is available free athttp://www.vtpi.org/tdm

According to a new report released by the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group with the high-tech industry settling down and the economy slowing, Silicon Valley can expect slower growth over the next 10 years.  That should lessen the strain Silicon Valley's meteoric growth has put on the availability and quality of resources, such as water, air and open space. But in order to ensure that trend continues, local businesses must shift their focus --  from using the resources to build the hub of the high-tech industry to making sure the resources continue to be available and to maintain their quality.  http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/bayarea/stories_baybreak/svalley_20010928.htm