|
iOI.0 ',II. 12, NUMB'R 4 NOV/DIV 1994
<br /> The many faces of sprawling growth
<br /> •LSP brings groups together to discuss sustainable development
<br /> Brian DeVore During the discussion,panel mem-
<br /> Bybers didn't always agree on what
<br /> here's little doubt the Twin Calthorpe: design solutions were needed to deal with
<br /> TheCities will remaindouone owinf the fastest "' • - sprawling growth,but there was a
<br /> communities around ' general consensus as to the widespread
<br /> growing metropolitan areas in the • r'4, nature of the problem.
<br /> country for at least another quarter eO le not autos f ArchbishopRoach said that not
<br /> century.Whether that growth is p p • '. _ ,. achieving a rowth pattern that serves
<br /> sustainable economically,environmen- the common good while protecting the
<br /> tally and socially depends more than Neighborhoods must reunite the life and dignity of individuals as well
<br /> ever on the cooperation of developers, Neighborhoods
<br /> commercial world and the civic as our natural resource base verges on
<br /> environmentalists,government offi- world if they hope to stop the kind of the immoral.
<br /> cials,church leaders and individual sprawling growth patterns that wreak "It seems to me that it's very clear to
<br /> citizens. social,environmental and economic say that for development to be truly
<br /> LSP helped bring these various havoc on our society.That was Peter sustainable,it must be socially just,"he
<br /> groups together on Oct. 14 with the Calthorpe's message in a special said.
<br /> "Building Bridges to Sustainable lecture co-sponsored by LSP during the To be socially,as well as environ-
<br /> Development"workshop during the National Growth Management Leader- mentally and economically just,
<br /> fall business meeting of the National ship Project's fall meeting in St.Paul, development must be efficient,said
<br /> Growth Management Leadership Minn. Packer.Developers are concerned
<br /> Project in St. Paul,Minn. One of Newsweek magazine's about the amount of land being wasted
<br /> "We're in this together and when- "innovators on the cutting edge," in development projects,he said.As
<br /> ever desperation,frustration and Calthorpe talked about ways commu- fewer houses are built on larger lots,
<br /> deterioration goes on in any of our nities can be re-designed for more developers will have no choice but to
<br /> communities,it affects all of our. sustainable growth.The award win- probe deeper into the countryside for
<br /> ommunities,"James Addington, ning architect and author of The Next building sites.He said many ordi-
<br /> director of the Lutheran Coalition for American Metropolis;Ecology,Commu- nances governing house building are
<br /> Public Policy in Minnesota, told forum nity,and the American Dream,told an put in place simply to raise the value of
<br /> participants. "The quicker that becomes audience of more than 300 people that te strctures built so they will pro-
<br /> the basis for our conversation together, America is developing communities duce more tax revenue for the local city
<br /> the quicker we'll see the light in terms that are more auto-friendly than government.This often blocks out low
<br /> of moving ahead." people-friendly.The result is a system and moderate income housing in
<br /> Participants represented a broad where people spend less time in their suburban areas. Requiring cities to
<br /> spectrum of concerns about sprawling own community and more time in cars. maintain a maximum density overall
<br /> growth patterns,including:John It's gotten to the point where houses would leave more room for housing of
<br /> Roach,archbishop of the Diocese of St. themselves are becoming less people- varying sizes and prices,said Packer.
<br /> Paul and Minneapolis;state representa- centered. „ :' Solem said the Metropolitan
<br /> tives Myron Orfield,Carol Molnau, "Every household has a garage door, "Regional
<br /> Dennis Ozment and Pamela Neary; not a porch,and every destination is a Council s newclsfor,Blueprint,”
<br /> Rick Packer,project manager for parking lot,"he said,pointing to a slide otherreleased in September,pcalls for,among
<br /> Shamrock Development,Inc. and a of apost-World War II suburb in the choices things,r expanding housing
<br /> p for lower income people
<br /> representative of the Builders Associa- San`Francisco Bay area. - throughout the region and creating a
<br /> tion of Minnesota;James Solem, These kinds of communities rely on climate of reinvestment in distressed
<br /> regional administrator for the Metro- autos to supply.all their needs,'from "` areas.The Blueprint also outlines
<br /> politan Council and Commissioner of employment to groceries to entertain- actions for strengthening a sense of
<br /> the Minnesota Housing Finance ment.Under sucha system,when community through land use planning
<br /> Authority;the Rev.James Battle of the people jump into their cars,they are and calls for reinforcing environmental
<br /> Mount Olive Church;Henry Rich- likely not driving somewhere in the . protection.
<br /> mond,founder and chairman of the community.Rather,they are going Richmond said growth boundaries
<br /> National Growth Management Leader- somewhere outside the community to must be established and enforced,so
<br /> ship Project and founder of 1000 shop or work,said Calthorpe. those concerned about sprawling
<br /> Friends of Oregon;Elwyn Tinklenberg, This creates a situation where. growth know what to focus on.He
<br /> mayor of Blaine,Minn.;James Murley, growth itself is controlled by access to cited national statistics indicating there
<br /> executive director of 1000 Friends of freeways.Because inner cities do not will be yet another surge of sprawl that
<br /> lorida;and Marilyn Lundberg of the have enough room to accommodate a will create a ring of suburbs further
<br /> innesota Environmental Quality
<br /> Board. Calthorpe, see page 7...
<br /> p 8 Bridges, see page 7...
<br /> 4
<br /> The Land Stewardship Letter
<br />
|