The National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education

The National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education

Welcome to the . . .

National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education
and the
Environmental Finance Center

In the News

Managing Growth With Priority Funding Areas: A Good Idea Whose Time Has Yet to Come - New Article in JAPA

A new article published in the Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA) by Rebecca Lewis, Gerrit-Jan Knaap and Jungyul Sohn examines the development, implementation and effects of Priority Funding Areas in Maryland--the key policy instrument in Maryland's pioneering approach to smart growth. The article entitled 'Managing Growth With Priority Funding Areas: A Good Idea Whose Time Has Yet to Come' was published in volume 75, issue 4, of JAPA and is free to view online.

In 1997, the State of Maryland adopted a bold new approach to growth management based on a novel instrument: priority funding areas (PFAs). PFAs contain growth by directing state spending to areas designated by local governments and reviewed by the state government. Despite widespread acclaim and subsequent imitation, little is known about whether PFAs effectively contain urban growth. The JAPA article evaluates the adoption, implementation, and performance of PFAs in Maryland in order to provide planners and policymakers with insights into their efficacy as instruments for managing growth.

Co-author Gerrit-Jan Knaap of the University of Maryland commented "We think the research is important because the state of Maryland, and its incentive approach to managing urban growth, has been hailed as a model for the rest of the nation. Before other states and local governments adopt similar approaches it is important to know both the strengths and limitations of that approach."

To read the JAPA article in full for free please visit:
Managing Growth with Priority Funding Areas

Delaware Farms, Ag Businesses Get Online Marketplace

Governor Jack Markell of Delaware announced the launch of Defoodtraders.org and Deagtrader.org, new cyber-crop and cyber-shop initiatives modeled after projects developed by the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland's National Center for Smart Growth Research & Education. Delaware is the third state to launch the sites, (after Maryland and New York) and they could help boost farmers' profit and relieve pressure to sell farmland.
To read full text, go to:
Del. farms, ag businesses get online marketplace

2009 Environmental Finance Courses Offered in Washington DC

University of Maryland School of Public Policy (MSPP), in collaboration with the US EPA's Environmental Finance Program, is expanding its course electives by offering courses in environmental finance. The new environmental finance track addresses a public need for policy and finance experts who can provide innovative financing solutions to the broad range of pressing local and global environmental funding shortfalls. For over a decade, Maryland University has offered graduate courses of interest to federal employees, on-site at EPA Headquarters in Washington DC. Courses are available to students seeking graduate credits and to those who simply want career development opportunities.

To obtain additional information please contact Karen Logan, School of Public Policy at (301) 405-8230 or kclogan@umd.edu
For more information, go to: EFC Courses 2009

Maryland Chapter of the American Planning Association Hosting Workshops on the Future of Comprehensive Planning in Maryland

The four workshops in November provide an opportunity to bring people together to discuss important topics including the current status of comprehensive planning in Maryland, choices and consequences of planning enabling legislative changes, and public opinions on preferences regarding the state's position in support of local planning.

For more information on dates and venues, go to:
MD APA Comprehensive Planning Workshop

New Book Details Political History of Maryland's Smart Growth Initiative

A new book by National Center for Smart Growth Associate Director John W. Frece details the politics and back-room maneuvering that led to the creation in 1997 of Maryland's well known Smart Growth and Neighborhood Conservation initiative and its implementation in succeeding years. Sprawl and Politics: The Inside Story of Smart Growth in Maryland, was published in July by the State University of New York Press and includes a Foreword by Center Executive Director Gerrit-Jan Knaap.

For more information, go to: SUNY Press
For official press release, go to: Press Release

Impact of Urban Form on Residential Energy Use - New Article in Housing Policy Debate

A new article in Housing and Policy Debate written by Professor Reid Ewing and Fang Rong examines the impact of urban form on residential energy use in the United States. The authors focus on three causal pathways: electric transmission and distribution losses, energy requirements of different housing stocks, and space heating and cooling requirements associated with urban heat islands. Statistically controlling for other influences, different effects on sprawling and compact counties are examined.
To read full text, go to:
The Impact of Urban Form on US Residential Energy Use (Housing Policy Debate Vol. 19(1))

Unique Maryland Ag Exchange Network Created

The Maryland Agricultural Exchange, created by the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland, is a new free online marketplace that can help Maryland farmers buy, sell, give away, or trade their agricultural products. Functioning much like a 'Craig's List' for agriculture, the new agriculture products exchange website, located at Agtrader.org, will facilitate exchanges among farmers in Maryland and throughout the Chesapeake Bay region exchange products such as manure, compost, hay, fodder crops, fruits and vegetables, organics, equipment, livestock, and much more. Press Release

New Book by NCSG Research Professor Reid Ewing Examines Urban Development and Climate Change

This new book, published by the Urban Land Institute documents how key changes in land development patterns could help reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. Based on a comprehensive review of dozens of studies by leading urban planning researchers, the book concludes that urban development is both a key contributor to climate change and an essential factor in combating it. The authors make the case that one of the best ways to reduce vehicle travel is compact development: building places in which people can get from one place to another without driving. This includes developments with a mix of uses and pedestrian-friendly settings.

To read the first chapter ("Overview") of the book, click here: Chapter 1 Overview
To visit the Urban Land Institute Bookstore, click here: ULI Bookstore

Joint Transportation Policy Research Group to be Established

The National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education is pleased to announce the establishment of a Transportation Policy Research Group on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park.

The mission of the Transportation Policy Research Group is to explore new approaches to transportation policy that provides citizens with transportation choices that:

increase mobility and accessibility,
are economically and environmentally sustainable, and
promote sound urban development

To further this mission the research group will conduct advanced policy research on topics of interest to the Maryland Department of Transportation. The Maryland Department of Transportation and the University of Maryland have entered into a contract under which the University will provide these services. Issues to be studied include, but are not limited to:

the identification of new markets for transit service;
the implementation of transit-oriented development;
the efficacy of congestion pricing and other demand management tools;
the potential of Intelligent Transportation Systems,
the effects of transportation investments on urban growth, land use, and environmental quality; and
transportation economics and finance

To be housed at the National Center for Smart Growth, the Transportation Policy Research Group will be directed by Dr. Gerrit-Jan Knaap, the Center's executive director.

Study Shows Effect Inclusionary Zoning Policies Have on Production, Cost and Size of Housing

A new Center for Smart Growth study shows that policies aimed at increasing the stock of affordable housing can stimulate construction of multi-family housing, but may also push up the price and reduce the size of single family houses that are built within the cities that adopted the policy. The study, by Gerrit Knaap, Antonio Bento and Scott Lowe and funded by the National Home Builders Association, examined so-called "inclusionary zoning" policies implemented in California from 1998 to 2005.

To read a press release, click here: Official Press Release
To read the entire report, click here:
Housing Market Impact of Inclusionary Zoning

Prince George's County Shortchanged on Federal Office Leases

A new University of Maryland study of federal office leasing activities in the Washington metropolitan area concludes that Prince George's County is not receiving leases on a par with other jurisdictions in the region.

This study, conducted by the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education and the university's Real Estate Development Program, said the imbalance in leasing is occurring despite the fact that Prince George's County has more land and generally offers lower rents than its neighboring jurisdictions.
Click here for Summary Report
Click here for Full Report
To read County Executive Jack B. Johnson's comments, go to: Announcement

2007 NCSG Best Masters Thesis Award Winner Announced

The National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education at the University of Maryland is proud to announce the winner of the 2007 NCSG Best Masters Thesis Award.

The 2007 winner is Nigel G. Griswold of Michigan State University, whose thesis is titled, "The Impacts of Tax-Foreclosed Properties and Land Bank Programs on Residential Housing Values in Flint, Michigan". The runner-up for this year is Iris E. Patten of University of Florida. Her thesis is titled, "The Use of GIS in Allocatiing Employment Centers that Minimize Land Use Conflicts and Satisfy Regional Economic Potential". Mr. Griswold will receive $1,000 award.

For official announcement of 2007 Award winners and finalists, go to: Official Winner Announcement
This thesis has been published as Michigan Land Policy Institute Report, and is available here: MSU Land Policy Institute Report

New Book edited by Yan Song and Chengri Ding Examines China's Massive Migration to Cities

While China's overall population growth rate is projected to be seemingly modest 0.6%, its urban segment will be growing faster than twice this rate for the next 10 years. To increase American and international awareness of China's challenges in its "transition to a socialist market economy" and the wider repercussions, two researchers associated with the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education at the University of Maryland examine the most pressing challenges facing planners and policymakers in China today in the new book, titled "Urbanization in China: Critical Issues in an Era of Rapid Growth."

The book, published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy focuses on four key areas: urban planning, land policy, rural-to-urban migration, and financing China's urbanization. The book reflects the proceedings of the Institute's May 2006 Conference on "Urban Strategies and Instruments" to promote "economically sound, environmentally desirable, politically feasible, and socially acceptable" growth in China. For more information, go to: New Book Introduction

State Agencies Lax in Tracking Smart Growth Spending

A new study by the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education shows that state agencies have been lax in tracking and regularly reporting where they spend growth-related funds as required by Maryland's 10-year-old Smart Growth law. The report, written by Center Executive Director Gerrit-Jan Knaap and Rebecca Lewis, a graduate student in the School of Public Policy and research assistant at the Center, says this shortcoming makes it difficult to evaluate why the state's incentive-based approach is not having much success. Press Release Full Report

Obstacles to Skinny Streets - New Article in Urban Land

A new Urban Land article written by Professor Reid Ewing, Ted Stevens, and Steven J. Brown examine obstacles to creating more "skinny" streets. After years of discussion, the field of traffic engineering is slowly embracing narrow streets in practice. Narrow streets have numerous advantages, including comfortable human scale for pedestrians, lower cost of development and minimized negative impact on environment. However, there is another unexpected barrier to implementation: The Local Fire Chief. The authors present case studies around the country where local fire codes prohibit building narrower street in the interests of "safety first."
To read full text, go to:
Skinny Streets and Fire Trucks (Urban Land Aug 07)
Urban Land Institute Website

New Study Helps Predict Flooding In Urban Watersheds

A new U.S. Geological Survey study co-authored by Associate Professor Glenn E. Moglen provides researchers with new ways of predicting flooding in urban watersheds. The study developed methods of applying existing Geological Survey flood estimates, which generally apply to rural areas, to more urbanized areas by taking into consideration either the amount of impervious surfaces or existing population density within the watershed.

Dr. Moglen, an associate research scientist at the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education and an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, co-authored the study with Dorianne E. Shivers while on a sabbatical at the U.S. Geological Survey. The full study, entitled "Methods for Adjusting U.S. Geological Survey Rural Regression Peak Discharges in an Urban Setting," may be found at: USGS Office of Surface Water

Two NCSG Affiliate Members Selected for Governor's Cabinet

Two of Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's recent cabinet appointees are longtime friends of and affiliate faculty members at the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education.

Richard E. Hall has been appointed Secretary of Planning. Hall also serves on the Governor's Executive Council, the Governor's Council on the Chesapeake Bay, and the Smart Growth Subcabinet. He is also the President of the Maryland Chapter of the American Planning Association.

John D. Porcari has been appointed as Secretary of Transportation. Porcari is also a member of the Governor's Executive Council, the Governor's Subcabinet on International Affairs, and the Smart Growth Subcabinet. He previously served as Secretary of Transportation under Governor Parris Glendening from 1999-2003 and as the Vice President for Administrative Affairs at the University of Maryland , College Park from 2003-2007.

Both Hall and Porcari have worked with the Center on a variety of projects, including the Reality Check growth visioning exercises held throughout Maryland in 2006.

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