Land-use expert Randall Arendt says while many cities have comprehensive plans that aim for conservation, they have zoning laws that promote development and sprawl.
"'Most zoning ordinances are written to do nothing but promote development. But those ordinances can be designed and written with conservation in mind,' said Randall Arendt, a senior conservation adviser for the Natural Lands Trust and an expert on designing subdivisions that minimize environmental damage... Arendt said he is often hired as a consultant by municipalities and is often bewildered when he contrasts the community's long-range comprehensive plan to its zoning laws that developers use as a guide in building. "
Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan
FULL STORY: Land-use expert tells officials zoning laws can promote conservation
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research