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We hope everyone is having a relaxing and enjoyable summer. We will need it. There is much to accomplish.

It is an exciting and somewhat exhausting time for the Smart Growth movement. This newsletter chronicles some projects Vision is involved in, as well as other relevant news around Long Island. Recent successes include a public hearing on Portion Road that received broad community support. The Village of Farmingdale is moving forward with a building moratorium to enable code revisions and consideration of architectural design guidelines. In Gordon Heights, the community has unified to rebuild its downtown. Other projects to watch include implementation of the Land Use Plan in Middle Island, the neighborhood center being developed in Mastic Beach, and projects on the way in Bay Shore.

Mega projects abound: Nassau Coliseum, Glen Cove's waterfront, Suffolk County's plans for Yaphank, downtown Riverhead, and of course Heartland in Brentwood. Each of these will receive a fair share of scrutiny and headlines. We wish these projects great success -- May they adhere to Smart Growth principles and create opportunities for public involvement and guidance. We'll be watching closely and doing our best to guarantee it.

At this juncture, however, it may be the smaller projects that work to rebuild trust and get our region back on track. As it stands, developers, government officials, community leaders and various intermediaries are at often not only at odds, but unable even to dialogue over scenarios for future growth. One controversial example includes the demise of the Avalon Bay project in Oyster Bay. While we were well aware of widespread opposition to the project, we were a bit shocked at the sense that the community could not even risk conversation over fear for what the developer may have planned. In Shoreham, debate continues on the future of the Tallgrass and Delalio Sod Farm as the developer seeks to advance a PDD with a village center, the "as of right" use of 283 homes, or some form of open space purchase.

The social work and counseling community would tell us that the main way to rebuild trust is in small yet significant steps. The Smart Growth Award honorees (see www.visionlongisland.org) show that we are making progress in that process. We hope to advance even further at the 5th Annual Smart Growth Summit, which will be held on Friday November 17th. This year, the focus will be breaking down barriers to Smart Growth implementation. Workshops will cover key issues such as sewers and infrastructure, transportation, codes and regulations, school districts and taxes, and community process.

We need your support and involvement to make this years Summit a success. Please call our office and join the team.

It has been said that progressive land use changes are a marathon, not a sprint. There are times when it may seem comfortable and expedient to sacrifice long term interests to achieve an immediate result. However, if we are really going make anything better, we need to keep our eyes on the goal: a Long Island that houses citizens of all income levels, preserves and improves its natural environment and fosters a true sense of place, community and vibrancy. This is what Smart Growth means. Help us make it a reality.

Let us know what you think. Send comments and contributions to "Smart Talk" at info@visionlongisland.org.

VLI NEWS & EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE: 5TH ANNUAL SMART GROWTH SUMMIT

The 2006 Smart Growth Summit: Breaking Down Barriers to Smart Growth Implementation will be held Friday, November 17th from 8am to 4pm at the Huntington Town House. This comprehensive land-use conference annually draws over 600 leaders and experts from all sectors and interests to learn about and address issues of Smart Growth and Livability. The event features diverse interactive workshops, a government plenary, extensive networking opportunities and more. Sponsorship packages are available. For more information call 631-261-0242.

The Plans for CR16 (Portion Rd) between Ronkonkoma Ave and CR97 (Nicolls Rd) received wide-spread support at public hearing held by the Suffolk County Department of Public Works on July 11th. Plans include pedestrian, traffic safety and beautification measures envisioned by the community during an October 2004 charrette.

After over two years of public lobbying, the Shoreham Civic Organization enthusiastically brought the community together to kick-off of a charrette for the Delalio Sod Farm and the Tall Grass Golf Course in Shoreham.

The first phase of the charrette occurred on July 15th. At the event, community members met with architects, engineers and other professionals involved with the project. Information was presented regarding the current proposal for a Planned Development District, as well as other potential scenarios including the “as of right” use of 283 single family homes and the potential for preservation/public acquisition. A Visual Preference Survey was also administered to effectively examine and express citizen's opinions of different development options.

Work is currently underway to convert the input from the process into a detailed community vision. The unveiling, where alternatives will be presented to community for their review is scheduled for 9/20.

Over 250 Gordon Heights' residents gathered together back in March to kick-off a visioning process for Gordon Heights with surveys, design tables and a review of community hopes and horrors. A primary message from residents was that they want to positively infuse the existing development with a clear sense of place, rather than tear their community apart in the name of economic development. They want effective lighting, safer streets, better public transportation and access to commercial districts, affordable housing for single mothers, and a multi-use community center.

In May, community members came together again to review the results of the visual preference survey, learn about the progress of the designs, and ask questions. At Gordon Heights Community Day on July 29th, VISION hosted a booth where people could learn about the VISION and offer their input to this ongoing process. A highlight of that day was a 'Box City' contest, where local youth designed what they wanted to see for the future of Gordon Heights.

Come to the Community Baptist church on September 16th to see the unveiling of the Vision for Gordon Heights. For more information, check out the Gordon Heights Future Website: http://gordonheightsfuture.org

MIDDLE COUNTRY ROAD VISION ADVANCES WITH PLANS FOR KOGEL PROPERTY; NYS DOT STILL A PROBLEM

Back in 2002, the Middle Island/Coram Community came together for one Long Island first and most ambitious charrettes. Through this process, the community sought to transform plans for a widened NYS25 (Middle Country Road) with a vision for pedestrian and traffic safety, beautification, and mixed use nodes of development that would bring a true 'sense of place' to Coram and Middle Island.

Over the past four years, this vision has slowly, but surely progressed. A major milestone included passage of the Middle Country Road Land Use Plan, which provides major incentives to developers willing to build in the spirit of the community vision. Others included the preservation and beautification of Artist Lake, initiation of clean-up and maintenance initiatives for various roads and parcels, and improved code enforcement. Now another major milestone is upon the communities of Coram and Middle Island: a new mixed-use center is being approved for the old abandoned lumberyard known as the Kogel Property.

While these advances are significant, the NYS Department of Transportation is still posing a major obstacle to creating the resident-friendly boulevard atmosphere that the vision calls for. However this community -- one of the first on Long Island to take a truly proactive role in planning the future of their region -- remains undeterred. They will continue to fight for their vision.

On May 4th, over 50 community leaders came out in support of a design workshop for Bay Shore. Following opening remarks from the Superintendent of Schools, Maureen Liccione of the Bay Shore/Brightwaters Summit Council, and Islip Councilman Steve Flotteron, a Visual Preference Survey was administered. Residents also expressed and prioritized their hopes and horrors.

At a follow up on June 27th, residents learned the results of the Visual Preference Survey and the Hopes and Horrors exercise. They were also show a power point presentation of Bay Shore as it exists and recommendations that include connecting Main Street and the Waterfront, creating a successful downtown mix of uses, design alternatives and ways the public can continue to be included in the process.

On May 24th, Vision Long Island hosted a public meeting to discuss the future of the Hallock Chevrolet Site. This included a review of Avalon Bay Community's proposal, other alternatives for its redevelopment, and initial considerations concerning their potential impact.

While attendance at this meeting was great, the community's distinct lack of trust in Avalon Bay and its intentions formed the only clear point of consensus. Vision Long Island continues to maintain a neutral stance and has taken no position on what may be best for the site.

For more information about this meeting, please call Eric Alexander at 631-261-0242.

In early February, VISION and the Village of Farmingdale hosted a charrette to plan the future of the downtown area. The event featured walking tours, public forums, and design tables, seeking to involve the broadest spectrum of the community possible.

The event culminated in a vision that includes Main Street Improvements, and steps to incorporate greenspace in the downtown. Recently, the Village approved a six-month development moratorium to enable the Village to revise codes and regulations to advance the vision. The Village will also be considering architectural guidelines and/or a potential architectural review board.

The Nassau Business and Community Planning Coalition (NBCPC) met in late June with Nassau County Planning Commissioner Patti Bourne for a project update on the Hub. The MIS is beginning phase two of the study with a $20 million in Federal Transportation funds set aside for planning. NBCPC members, including the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, Civic and Environmental organizations have many questions regarding the future of the Hub, particularly concerning Nassau Coliseum redevelopment.

In a series of articles, the Long Island Business News has reported on Charles Wang's approved proposal to bring a mix of residences, offices and retail along with an improved Nassau Coliseum and minor league ball park to the Nassau Hub. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Nassau County, Scott Rechler and Charles Wang was signed into being at the end of June, moving the proposal for redevelopment of the 77-acre site forward.

This advance occurred despite some questions raised in a report issued by Eric Naughton of Nassau's Office of Legislative Budget Review, which showed the economic benefits of the close-second proposal by the NY Mets to be slightly higher. In the end, it seems, the County felt the amount of adjacent property owned by Reckson Associates and Wang made realization of their bid more likely.

Of course, much still rests in the hands of The Town of Hempstead, which seems hesitant to join in the excitement. As written in the July 21st Long Island Business News, "A new arena will no doubt help pull in fans, but a completed facility could be years – many years – away, given the recalcitrance being shown by Hempstead officials. If Wang’s going to rebuild attendance to anything approaching the gloried numbers of the past, he’s got to get this team in line, fast."

The Congress for the New Urbanism is the preeminent conference that annually brings the best and brightest from around the nation to share tools, successes and lessons learned, establishing the cutting edge of land-use planning. Vision Long Island is a founding member of the NY Chapter of CNU, advancing planning, projects and other related educational and development projects throughout New York State.

At this year's conference, over 1500 professionals from around the country converged of Providence, Rhode Island to focus on implementing Smart Growth projects. Now that we have achieved a critical mass of growing visions, this is a particularly timely topic for Long Island. Vision Long Island and other Long Island leaders shared their experiences, coming away with tools and techniques that promise to help our region grow in the best way possible. With our "don't reinvent the wheel" philosophy ever in mind, we look forward to incorporating this information as a focus of our 5th annual Smart Growth Summit.

Learn more about the New Urbanism, what it is, where it's going, and how to get there at CNU's website: http://www.cnu.org

On June 16th Vision Long Island hosted over 375 leaders, experts and advocates at the 5th Annual Smart Growth Awards. The event put a spotlight on the cutting edge people, projects and policies that are shaping the future of Long Island’s landscape. Categories were based on “Principles of Smart Growth,” and included awards for green development and regional leadership.

The Master of Ceremonies for what many have come to call the “Oscars” of land-use was Lea Tyrell, well-known anchor of News 12 Long Island. Featured guests included Brookhaven Supervisor Brian Foley and Reckson Associates President/CEO Scott Rechler. In his keynote presentation, Scott Rechler delivered an informative review of the market trends regional commercial developers are responding to. These include skyrocketing costs and post-9/11 realities that are driving major corporations to decentralize operations. Rechler noted that as these interests divide their holdings into several geographic ‘baskets’, they and their employees continue to demand the convenience and services they had in major metropolitan centers. As the developer of the Nassau Coliseum site, Reckson has a key opportunity to create a model for how Long Island developers can meet this growing demand.

Reflecting on these trends, Eric Alexander, Executive Director of Vision Long Island noted that corporations are not the only ones seeking smart, convenient developments, “Long Islanders value choice. Smart Growth provides the alternatives people are looking for by creating real places that will improve quality of life and retain our workforce.

Indeed, the prime objective of the Smart Growth Awards is to positively reinforce these steps toward better land use policy and to effectively raise the
bar for preservation and development practices throughout the region. Toward this end, over the past five years VISION has given out 55 awards. The honorees have catalyzed others, served as a guide to future Smart Growth projects, and transformed the communities of which they are part. In a nutshell over the last five years VISION has honored:

• Eight community organizations and four business and community leaders
• Ten elected officials and eleven government sponsored plans, policies or regulations
• Six projects that are in planning, four in construction, and twelve that have been built

• 26 communities (13 in each County) underwent downtown revitalization efforts
• 20 communities have new Master or Hamlet Plans. Seven of these involved visionings.
• 17 legislative initiatives on State, County, Town and Village levels have been honored (16 have passed successfully)
• 18 projects have created a total of 2,538 housing units. Of these, 604 are affordable.
• Eight projects have yielded 475,000 square feet of retail and office space.
• Eight projects with open space components totaled 883 acres of preserved land
• Nine projects with transportation components secured over $58 million in investment.
• Two projects incorporated green building design and clean energy principles.
• Four projects transformed NIMBY sentiment into support for an alternative plan. (These projects included three road widenings and one big box store transformed into three pedestrian friendly corridor plans and a mixed use development)

All told, Smart Growth honorees have brought in over $150 million of public investment, leveraging over $650 million in private investment. What cannot be so easily delineated is the positive social and human impacts these projects have had at virtually every level.

Information about the event, as well as annual journals profiling all Smart Growth Awards Honorees can be found on Vision Long Island’s website www.visionlongisland.org. For more information about the Smart Growth Awards, including print-worthy images and video transcripts of the event, please call Vision Long Island at 631-261-0242.

VISION is looking to for conscientious, energetic interns to assist in event planning, database development, planning/design, reporting, organizing, photography and more. This is a valuable opportunity to work with great people, learn about the issues impacting Long Island, and work with community members, government, professionals, and a broad variety of organizations

Universities and individuals interested in learning about these postings are encouraged to contact us. Please put "Internships for 2006" in the subject heading.

PORTION ROAD STREETSCAPE WORKSHOP
Ronkonkoma Fire District Building
Friday, August 11th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM or
Saturday, August 19th from 10:00 AM to Noon
For more, visit http://www.lakeronkonkomacivic.org/index.htm

Come review the alternatives for Delalio Sod Farm and the Tall Grass Golf Course in Shoreham on 9/20. More details will be available on our website soon: www.visionlongisland.org

Come to the Community Baptist church on September 16th to see an update on the Vision for Gordon Heights. Check www.gordonheightsfuture.org for details

"The Long Island Regional Planning Board (LIRPB), a nationally-recognized regional planning agency serving Nassau and Suffolk Counties and all of the municipalities on Long Island, NY, is responsible for the development and periodic updating of the region's Comprehensive Plan, including the development and advancement of sound public policies in land use and environmental management, housing, open space preservation, groundwater protection, coastal zone, energy, taxation, transportation, education and economic development. The Executive Director reports to a six-member Board appointed by the County Executives and confirmed by the County Legislatures.

Requirements include minimum of seven years of experience in progressively responsible senior positions at the larger city, county or regional level; demonstrated experience in the preparation and advancement of comprehensive plans; strong administrative skills and the ability to work closely and harmoniously with elected and appointed officials in the executive and legislative branches at all levels of government, and with the public; and, a demonstrated understanding of the role of planning policies on issues of equity, diversity, health and financial viability of communities.

Graduate Degree Required. Excellent comprehensive benefits/competitive salary. Send cover letter with CV, including publications history to:

Nassau and Suffolk Counties are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers M/F/D/V"

TRANSPORTATION POLICY ADVISOR WITH THE EPA SMART GROWTH PROGRAM
From the US EPA:

"This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program conducts research and policy analysis to develop strategies which encourage environmentally responsible development policies and practices on the part of federal, state and local governments as well as external partners in development-related sectors. The program also communicates EPA's message regarding the environmental impacts of development location and design. The program also develops analytical tools and information to help inform communities across the country of the implications of alternative growth scenarios and practices.

The candidate will serve as the transportation policy advisor to the Director of the Smart Growth Program, other EPA staff, and external stakeholders. This person will work to articulate the role of transportation approaches that support smart growth principles to developers, transportation engineers, planners and other stakeholders. Candidate will identify and/or develop transportation policies and practices that support smart growth principles, as well as model the interaction between land use, transportation and air quality.

Follow instructions below to view the full job announcement.
Open Period: 07/28/2006 - 08/18/2006
Salary: $77,353.00 TO $100,554.00
Duty Location: Washington DC Metro Area

TO APPLY: The JOB ANNOUNCEMENT can be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/ezhire. Locate job number HQ-OA-DE-2006-0042 and click on ANY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS (PUBLIC NONSTATUS). Click on HQ-OA-MP-2006-0099 if you are a current or former EPA employee."

Copper Beech Villages, the recipient of a 2006 Smart Growth Award for addressing affordable housing needs, officially broke ground in early July. This 80-unit townhouse development in the heart of Patchogue's village area is the first project supported by the Suffolk County Workforce Housing Commission and a key component in the planned revitalization of downtown Patchogue.

Copper Beech Village, located at South Ocean Avenue and Gerard Street, is being built in a joint venture between Long Island Housing Partnership and Pulte Homes as a mixed-income development. Suffolk County will acquire one-half of the 5.18 acres of land, for approximately $3.3 million. Twenty of the two-bedroom, townhouse units will be allocated to homeowners under 80% of the region's median income at a sales price of approximately $159,000; and twenty will be sold to homeowners under 120% of the median income at a sales price of approximately $244,000. The remaining 40 units will be sold at market value.

"Copper Beech Village will not only provide homes for our next generation of homeowners, but will provide the economic engine that is critical to the redevelopment and revitalization of downtown Patchogue," added Pontieri, who noted the site is also within walking distance to the Long Island Railroad's Patchogue station.

The Town of Riverhead recently gave its approval for Riverhead Renaissance LLC (a company of the Apollo Real Estate Advisors) to initiate the largest redevelopment project in the Town's history. The effort includes the first supermarket in over 30 years, a 30,000 square foot commercial and residential building along the riverfront and a 14-screen multiplex on East Main Street that would also contain either a hotel or 100 housing units.

The theatre portion of this plan is in direct competition with another multiplex project that also includes parking and retail between Railroad and Court Streets. The Vintage Group has had this project in the works for over four years. It's clear that one big theater is enough for the downtown. What's unclear is who's going to build it first.

The Glen Cove Record-Pilot recently reported on the massive public presentation held July 17th on the waterfront redevelopment plan proposed by Glen Isle Partners LLC, a partnership of the Monti and Posillico Organizations. The meeting came at the request of Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi, whose campaign promises included opening discussions on the waterfront.

Over 1500 residents came to view the detailed information provided by Glen Isle Partners, and to fill out comment sheets provided by both the developer and the City. The parcel is comprised of 56 acres. 14-16 have been designated open space. Glen Isles' plan includes roughly 40,000 square feet of retail, marinas, catering and restaurants, a hotel complex and luxury spa, and esplanade along the waterfront and 860 residential units, with a 10% set aside for affordable housing.

The project is supported by the Chamber of Commerce, who recently honored the group for its vision. Primary concerns from residents revolve around the 860 residential units (the plan includes two 14-story buildings), and potential traffic congestion.

While Glen Isle maintains that the density is needed to ensure the financial viability of the project and that the new road being built is designed to handle twice the capacity the new development will generate. However, concerns remain about the roads leading in to the new road. The developers maintain that the primary concerns include water, sewage and garbage. The City agrees that sewage treatment capacity should be adequate, and questions any concerns about water whether or not Glen Isle builds its promised well. Garbage removal is anticipated to be private, although the Mayor questions whether it will ultimately fall upon Glen Cove.

Gore's movie An Inconvenient Truth and the acclaimed documentary, End of Suburbia each illustrate how sprawl growth and development are driving large-scale increases in energy consumption. The Smart Growth movement has increasingly focused efforts on how it's practices help address energy issues on a broad variety of levels. This includes its recent contribution to green building standards, Leed ND, which were created in collaboration between the US Green Building Council, the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The need for systemic changes to reduce energy consumption is driven home as we face rising costs, and hear reports of record energy demand. Amid concerns that ongoing heat waves will prove too much for limited resources, LIPA, has consistently urged it's customers to conserve energy as much as possible. Specific things individuals have been asked to do include:

Eliminate non-essential electric consumption;
Put air conditioners on timers, don't let them run when not at home;
Set air conditioners at 78 degrees;
Use fans to circulate cool air, which helps cut air conditioner use;
Set refrigerators and freezers at most efficient temperatures; and
Run major appliances such as clothes and dishwashers in the morning or late evening to avoid the peak demand hours of 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

In addition to these requests, LIPA also announced a press conference for August 2nd, on the construction phase of the world’s largest and highest-voltage superconductor electric transmission cable system to be installed in Holbrook. The superconductor cable can carry 150 times the power of a conventional copper wire of similar size. LIPA claims that this cutting-edge technology could supply economical electric power to areas with transmission bottlenecks.

Brian Brennan of the Northender recently reported that six out of fourteen open space acquisitions put up for consideration under the $50million Open Space Bond act were recently approved by the Nassau County Legislature: The Pullin Estate and the Northwood Estate in Oyster Bay Cove, Red Spring Woods in Glen Cover, two portions of the Boegner Estate in Old Westbury and Parkway Drive in Baldwin. Another $6million remains available for acquisition, with advocates hoping it will be used for the eight acre Meyers Farm in Woodbury.

The Long Island Business News recently reminded the region about one of the biggest challenges facing Smart Growth and affordable housing advocates: sewers. There aren't enough of them and, thanks to scandals of the past, nobody in elected office wants to propose building them.

This is a major issue for Long Island. LIBN recently quoted the head of Suffolk County Economic Development, Jim Morgo: “Lack of sewers is the single biggest detrimental factor to economic development – whether it’s housing, commercial activity, retail, you name it.”

Commentary: Public Goals Carrying More Weight in Transportation Planning as Vision and Leadership Shifts to Smart Growth Movement
Almost incredulous that the recent official "hype" over the 50th anniversary of the interstate highway system sent a single a message of more -- "more of the same, more lanes, higher speeds and ever-increasing number of cars to be accommodated," Project for Public Spaces Senior Associate and Urban Edge Associates President Toni Gold writes in a Hartford Courant commentary that despite hopes of some experts for a new direction from Washington, the vision and the leadership -- not to mention the passion -- they seek "now lies not with transportation officialdom, but with the movement for smart growth and livable communities that is sweeping the country."
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5558&state=52

CALIFORNIA
Improving Urban Services Could Curb NIMBY Resistance to Infill Development
While smart growth is making steady progress, it still faces frequent Not-In-My-Backyard (NIMBY) resistance, mostly because some people fear change, think higher density only increases traffic and lack full explanation of mixed-use benefits, reports San Diego Business Journal writer Pat Broderick, citing four local smart growth practitioners.
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5559&state=5

"Focusing Our Vision" in the Bay Area: Communities Invited to Put Personal Touches on Regional Development Plan
Taking stock of what Bay Area jurisdictions have accomplished since the region's 2002 smart growth visioning process, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Bay Area Air Quality Control District invite local officials, neighborhood leaders and other stakeholders to a Focusing our Vision series of public events, to work out a joint "nine-county regional development plan" necessary to accommodate another million residents by 2020.
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5560&state=5

CONNECTICUT
West Goshen Smart Growth Alliance Plans Active Role in Oversight of Development Near Mohawk Mountain State Park
In yet another sign of increasing grassroots momentum against sprawl and involvement in local land-use decisions throughout the state, West Goshen's Smart Growth Alliance (SGA) for Greystone Manor claimed a direct role in talks between the township and Pulte Homes about details of the more than 500 proposed single-family homes on the Jerrehian Estates a few miles east of Mohawk Mountain State Park.
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5561&state=7

FLORIDA
Sierra Club Says Revised Plans for Babcock Ranch Could Help Project Become Model for Smart Growth in Florida
As many have hoped and some predicted, the dispute over the final shape of the huge mixed-use Babcock Ranch project in Charlotte and Lee counties was solved amicably just days before an administrative judge was to heard it on July 24, with developer Syd Kitson making several environmental concessions and the Sierra Club dropping its challenge to the planned density of 19,500 residential units on 17,000 acres he will keep after selling almost 74,000 acres for $310 million to the state for preservation, a settlement called by the club's Manatee-Sarasota chapter chairwoman Ginger Perlman "a win-win situation for all parties involved" and also for smart growth.
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5562&state=10

GEORGIA
Atlanta Developers Hope to Duplicate Success of Atlantic Station on City's Northeastern Edge
Impressed by the successful redevelopment of a former steel mill site in Midtown Atlanta into the mixed-use high-density Atlantic Station, widely seen as a model of smart growth, developers have launched similar multi-million dollar projects on the city's northeastern perimeter, with county governments facilitating the urbanization of the aged suburbs through zoning changes, reports Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Christopher Quinn, and traffic-weary buyers snatching the opportunity to live in high-rises near jobs, shops and entertainment.
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5563&state=11

ILLINOIS
Changes to Winnebago County's PUD Procedures Would Keep Project Sites Close to Municipal Limits and Services
Sued by 35 Rockton residents and separately by the township for approving a 112-home subdivision about three miles to the northwest without normal hearings and thus depriving them of their right to object, Winnebago County will likely change its special-use permit procedure for Planned Community Development (PUD) this fall, with County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen saying his proposed zoning amendments would allow PUDs only within 1.5 miles of a municipality, which would ensure greater cost-effectiveness, better land use and real smart growth.
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5564&state=14

MASSACHUSETTS
East Longmont Residents Speak Out for Sidewalks So Kids Can Walk to School
Many East Longmont residents inside the two-mile Mountainview School radius, where they get courtesy busing for a fee, would prefer their children to walk to school, but this nice town just southeast of Springfield has no sidewalks along school routes, a problem town officials promised to address after getting an earful at a recent public speakout, especially from parent William Bednarzyk Jr.
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5565&state=22

NEW MEXICO
Edgewood Urged to Adopt Developer Impact Fees Before Infrastructure Falls Behind Rapid Growth
To ensure its long-term sustainability, Edgewood should adopt developer impact fees to help it pay for additional infrastructure and services, says an Albuquerque Journal editorial, stating that such fees are part of Smart Growth and cautioning this small but fast-growing town some 25 miles east against the dilemmas of Albuquerque's West Side, where officials have procrastinated and now residents "are playing catch-up with roads, services and, most importantly, schools."
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5566&state=32

PENNSYLVANIA
Columnist Illustrates Why Kids and the Elderly Suffer Most from Sprawl
Kids and the elderly "get the rawest deal from sprawl," writes Allentown Morning Call columnist Margie Peterson, quoting state Democratic Representative Bob Freeman, a key proponent of "Smart Growth" legislation to stem sprawl and revitalize downtowns, who says, "In the auto-bound suburban model (of development), they are prisoners."
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5567&state=39

TENNESSEE
Congested Roads Becoming Risky for Pedestrians and Cyclists as Rural Hendersonville Experiences Rapid Growth
Just northeast of Nashville, largely rural Hendersonville is growing and becoming heavily congested so fast that the city should do much more to make roads and streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, say its greenway and pedestrian committee members David Hardin and Frank Bowyer, especially concerned about children.
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5568&state=43

UTAH
Citizen's Group Wants Washington County Public Land Sale to Stem from Nature Conservancy/Envision Utah's Vision Dixie Plan
"A majority of people in Washington County want quality growth -- smart growth," said Citizens for Dixie's Future (CDF) Executive Director Lin Adler at a St. George rally against the Washington County Growth and Conservation Act of 2006, introduced in Congress by Utah Republican Senator Bob Bennett and Democratic Representative Jim Matheson earlier this month, his group most alarmed by a proposed auction of up to 25,000 federal acres and the risk of perpetuating sprawl.
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5569&state=45

VIRGINIA
Norfolk Celebrates Renewal of Historic Buildings; Housing Authority Creates Package to Keep Units Affordable
"Over the years, we've watched the demise of the Park Place community," said Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) vice chairman Ulysses Turner at a preview of the neighborhood's first of five historic buildings under conversion from rentals to a total of 50 affordable condos, all priced between $109,000 and $139,000 and already appraised at some $20,000 more each.
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5570&state=47

VLI NEWS & EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE: 5TH ANNUAL SMART GROWTH SUMMIT

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