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Governance/Management own boundaries while what are really area tition for tax base:and, maintain tradmona.
<br /> anti Sprawl • wide problems have little basis for regional municipal services-helping improve the
<br /> "Urban sprawl"could be characterized consideration, debate and solution. quality of life for citizens of the metropolitan,
<br /> as. unplanned and unmanaged growth— SEMCOG currently provides the forum for area by creating more equity between
<br /> the very antithesis of comprehensive and what consideration-is given to such issues, needed resources and the ability-to-pay of
<br /> coordinated land use planning. Such butitoperatesprimarilyinanadvisoryman- the area's citizens. Special consideration
<br /> sprawl is the likely outcome of a planning ner, leaving actual implementation of re- should be given to the benefits of mun al
<br /> process"that includes 234 local units of gional policies and plans to local govern- tax base sharing in balancing pub
<br /> government and as many planning com- ments(some of which are not members of sources.
<br /> missions, as well as more than 100 local SEMCOG and are absent from the inter- 2) In order to combat racial discrimina-
<br /> school districts. The end result is more governmentaldebateonimportantissues), tion and re-segregation in Southeast Mich-
<br /> than 300 plans that are unrelated, uncoor- igan, all communities must adopt and ag-
<br /> dinated. RECOMMENDATIONS gressively support antidiscrimination pro-
<br /> That fragmentation is a by-product of Principal Conclusion grams as well as more effectively enforce
<br /> the state and the region's strong tradition Continuing the pattern of "urban sprawl" existing anti-discrimination laws in housing
<br /> of local home rule—local governments is unacceptable. It will diminish the quality and employment. Public and private
<br /> created and empowered by the state with of life in Southeast Michigan—both its ex- schools must implement comprehensive
<br /> basic responsibility for their own opera- pensive suburban fringe development and programs that establish racial and cultural
<br /> tions and destinies. Each community its parallel disinvestment and abandon- understanding within all elements of the
<br /> makes planning, zoning and develop- ment of older urban communities. curriculum of each district, school and
<br /> ment decisions that make the most sense classroom.
<br /> for that community and its future. When An Action Framework 3)A set of land use planning guidelines
<br /> aggregated, the local plans do not repre- A series of cooperative public and pri- for both regional reviews and local land use
<br /> sent a logical approach to development of vate sector actions must be taken to mini- plans must be developed. Such guidelines
<br /> the overall region, largely because each mize urban sprawl in order to maintain should be based on these objectives: a)
<br /> community plans for its preferred future, and/or improve the quality of life throughout encouraging more compact development
<br /> rather than its likely future. There are, for Southeast Michigan. Over the next 20 that would conserve land and most effi-
<br /> example, almost twice as many acres lo- years: ciently use infrastructure;b) protecting en-
<br /> cally zoned for light industrial develop- 1)Changes must be made that will make vironmentally sensitive and agriculturally
<br /> ment as the most optimistic projections certain that growth at the suburban fringe valuable lands; c) improving the balance
<br /> for such development over the next 20 bears its own real costs, rather than being between location of jobs and housing;and,
<br /> years. subsidized through hidden or deferred d)preserving existing infrastructure and en-
<br /> costs previously borne by all citizens and couraging redevelopment of older/urban
<br /> taxpayers; communities.
<br /> Each community makes
<br /> 2) Specific legislative actions must be 4)A mandatory regional planning review
<br /> planning, zoning and taken that will lead to appropriate govern- process must be created,to review all pro-
<br /> development decisions that mental and private sector initiatives to
<br /> rede—velop and improve the quality of life in would have area wide or multicomm
<br /> that communityand its older/urban communities, by providing impact.
<br /> jobs, stabilizing revenue resources and 5) State legislation must require "con-
<br /> future. When aggregated, broadening the range of development currency"for new development—that is,
<br /> the local plans do not choices available to businesses as well as necessary roads,sewers and other infra-
<br /> to families seeking better housing and qual- structure should already be in place to
<br /> represent a logical approach
<br /> ity of life; maintain acceptable service levels as
<br /> to development of the 3) Actions must be taken that will drive needed while developments are com-
<br /> overall region. solutions to various social problems-racial pleted. In addition, the legislation must
<br /> discrimination,educational equity and qual- enable local communities to assess im-
<br /> ity, public safety and affordable housing— pact fees through which development
<br /> All too often, adjoining communities each to make certain that there is an acceptable would pay the true costs of additional
<br /> create local plans that cal' for aggressively quality of life for all citizens of the metropol- municipal capital costs generated by the
<br /> seeking growth and development(for the tax itan area;and, development.
<br /> dollars that follow). That competition often
<br /> overrules good planning and contributes sig- 4) Changes must be made in the way 6)Available federal and state resources
<br /> nificantly to the urbanlansprawl problem. Southeast Michigan is taxed, governed must be prioritized to combat future "urban
<br /> That problem becomes particularly dif- and managed—"regional home rule" sprawl"by helping support redevelopment,
<br /> ficult becose of the growing interde- changes that will help local governments maintenance and rehabilitation of
<br /> effectivelyaddress the proliferation of older/urban communities—including use of
<br /> pendence of local governments within the area wide issues and problems that are infrastructure funds, tax abatements, de-
<br /> seven-county region.A variety of govern- beyond the capacity of our local home velopment incentives and location of gov-
<br /> mental issues transcend local political rule process. ernment facilities.
<br /> boundaries—environmental protection,
<br /> both air and water; transportation, both 7)The region must revamp its transpor-
<br /> both
<br /> and dater; transportation,
<br /> asoca, on- Action Recommendations tation system to meet regional needs by
<br /> terns, including affordable housing, pub- 1)A careful analysis must be made of the instituting an area wide tax to fund needed
<br /> lit health, education, public safety; eco- state and region's over-reliance on the local transportation improvements, including im-
<br /> nomic development activities; and, such property tax,in orderto identify changes plementation of public transit alternatives
<br /> that will be needed to find a better balance that would enhance and serve the stabilize
<br /> public finance issues as property taxes, between that tax and other revenue op- tion and redeye opment of the existing
<br /> tax abatements and privatizing services. urban areas and relieve traffic con estion
<br /> But, local governments,generally work tions. Such a better balance would help g
<br /> individually on such problems within their bring equity to public school finance; help •
<br /> in outlying areas.
<br /> diminish the problems of municipal compe-
<br /> 10
<br /> Planning&Zoning Newer/November 1991
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