Issue Briefings

• Renewing the Great Lakes mega-region: Brookings sets state-federal course
• The realities of “Brain Drain”
• A closer look at changing exurbs: Ohio near top of exurbs stats

The land use and growth issues of concern to Greater Ohio impact Ohioans in many ways. Below are links to papers that explain how our issues are related to social equity, greenspace, workforce development, transportation, aging, health care, and many other issues. The papers were prepared by the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities.

• Local land-use laws determine development patterns and equitable housing opportunities
• Census estimates Ohio cities all losing population (August, 2006)
• Air quality and smart growth: Planning for cleaner air
• Regional equity and smart growth
• The fiscal and competitive advantages of smarter growth development patterns
• Social equity and the smart growth movement
• Workforce development and smart growth
• Parks, greenspace and land conservation
• Transforming sprawl into a broader sense of citizenship
• Agricultural sustainability and smart growth
• Transportation reform and smart growth
• Building aging-sensitive communities
• Reversing school sprawl for better schools and communities
• Building family-friendly communities
• Biodiversity and smart growth
• Building healthy, active communities
• The role of arts in placemaking
• Community development and smart growth
• The impacts of sprawl on aquatic ecosystems
• Energy and smart growth
• Environmentalism and smart growth

Update on the Ohio House Subcommittee on Growth and Land Use.

Undermining our cities: Columbus Dispatch "Brokered Dreams" series on foreclosures and mortgage fraud in Ohio

New guide for citizens!
Choosing Our Community's Future
A new guidebook from Smart Growth America, Choosing Our Community’s Future: A citizen’s guide to getting the most out of new development, is the rare resource designed specifically for people who want to make a positive contribution to shaping the growth and development of their neighborhoods, towns and regions. The guidebook will help readers make rational, compelling arguments against poorly conceived plans. But more importantly, it will help them paint a vision of what they do want. Order a copy here.

New EPA publications on smart growth issues

• Protecting Water Resources with Higher-Density Development
• Using Smart Growth Techniques as Stormwater Best Management Practices
• Growing Toward More Efficient Water Use: Linking Development, Infrastructure, and Drinking Water Policies
• Parking Spaces / Community Places: Finding the Balance through Smart Growth Solutions