Managing Growth in America's Communities: Second Edition - Softcover

Porter, Douglas R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 159726007X ISBN 13: 9781597260077

Publisher: Island Press, 2007

Synopsis

In this thoroughly revised edition of Managing Growth in America's Communities, readers will learn the principles that guide intelligent planning for communities of any size, grasp the major issues in successfully managing growth, and discover what has actually worked in practice (and where and why). This clearly written book details how American communities have grappled with the challenges of planning for growth and the ways in which they are adapting new ideas about urban design, green building, and conservation. Itdescribes the policies and programs they have implemented, and includes examples from towns and cities throughout the U.S.
 
“Growth management” is essential today, as communities seek to control the location, impact, character and timing of development in order to balance environmental and economic needs and concerns. Managing Growth in America's Communities addresses all of the key considerations:

• Establishing public roles in community development;
• Determining locations and character of future development;
• Protecting environmental and natural resources;
• Managing infrastructure development;
• Preserving community character and quality;
• Achieving economic and social goals;
• Respecting property rights concerns.

 
The author, who is one of the nation’s leading authorities on managing community growth, provides examples from dozens of communities across the country, as well as state and regional approaches. Brief profiles present overviews of specific problems addressed, techniques utilized, results achieved, and contact information for further research. Informative sidebars offer additional perspectives from experts in growth management, including Robert Lang, Arthur C. Nelson, Erik Meyers, and others.
 
This new edition has been completely updated by the author. In particular, he considers issues of population growth, eminent domain, and the importance of design, especially “green” design. He also reports on the latest ideas in sustainable development, “smart growth,” neighborhood design, transit-oriented development, and green infrastructure planning. Like its predecessor, the second edition of Managing Growth in America's Communities is essential reading for anyone who is interested in how communities can grow intelligently.

About this title

About the Author

Douglas R. Porter is a consultant on land use planning and policy issues based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He has written numerous books and documents for both ULI and APA. Anthony Downs at the Brookings Institution refers to Porter as “one of the nation’s leading experts in growth management.”

Review

"Douglas Porter provides an extremely valuable book for all those concerned with how we address the challenges of growth. He provides a broad understanding of the varied approaches across the country, their strengths and weaknesses, and so gives individuals a firm basis for approaching their local and regional growth problems."
(Linkages)

"Clearly, Managing Growth in America's Communities is a serious attempt to give some order to the bewildering diversity of stuff described as 'growth management.'"
(Planning)

"This book is a valuable text on techniques of growth management. It is a more valuable guide to decision makers about the importance of openness and creativity."
(Sustainable Communities)

"In this thoroughly revised edition, readers will learn principles that guide intelligent planning for communities of any size, grasp the major issues in successfully managing growth, and discover what has actually worked in practice. This is essential reading."
(Abstracts of Public Administration, Development, and Environment)

"Planning consultant Douglas R. Porter, FAICP, has produced a second and heavily revised edition of his Managing Growth in America's Communities. He brings together the older impulse toward urban growth boundaries and infrastructure concurrency requirements with more recent developments, including new urbanism, traditional neighborhood development, smart growth, sustainable development, and the renewed appeal of urban living to certain demographics."
(Planning)

Edition details

• Publisher: Island Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 159726007X
• ISBN 13: 9781597260077
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 336