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Library - we have a small library of books, magazines, CD's, etc. which have been sent to us.

18,000-Acre Development Near Bartow Awaits Approval - Lakeland Ledger article about the Clear Springs Land Company, 8/15/07

Factory and Site-Built Housing: A Comparative Analysis - a document published by Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH)

PAYING FOR PROSPERITY: IMPACT FEES AND JOB GROWTH
This June 2003 report by Arthur C. Nelson and Mitch Moody addresses the controversy around impact fees by reviewing the academic literature concerning the effect of impact fees on employment and the economy generally. In addition, the report presents a new analysis of the relationship between impact fees and job creation by assessing impact fee and economic data, assembled for the period 1993 to 1999, for the 67 counties of Florida. Overall, the paper finds that:
• Property tax revenues increasingly fail to cover the full costs of the infrastructure needed to serve new development.
• Impact fees, like user fees, offer a more efficient way to pay for infrastructure than general taxes, and ensure benefits to those who pay them. Academic literature suggests that the aggregate benefits of impact fees improve efficiency in the provision of infrastructure.
• Impact fees increase the supply of buildable land.
• Impact fees have complex effects on housing prices.
• Impact fees do not slow job growth.
This paper shows that impact fees are a practical and valuable tool for financing local infrastructure needs and goes on to demonstrate that faced with the growing demand for investment and the public resistance to tax increases, localities in growing regions that institute impact fees may become more prosperous in the long run than communities in such regions that do not have them. The report may be read in full or downloaded from the Brookings website.

From the publication Land Lines, January 2003, Vol 15, No.1:  Symposium Held in New York City on the Humane Metropolis: The full text of the article "Holly Whyte, Visionary for a Humane Metropolis" can be found under the heading of "Publications" , then click on "Holly Whyte", on the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy website, www.lincolninst.edu. "In June 2002, about 300 urban design practitioners, writers, ecologists, grassroots activists and students gathered in New York City for "The Humane Metropolis: People and Nature in the 21st Century-A Symposium to Celebrate and Continue the Work of William H. Whyte." William H. "Holly" Whyte first coined the phrase "urban sprawl" and wrote extensively about quality of life and open spaces in cities. The Ecological Cities Project at the Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, organized the event with a grant from the Lincoln Institute and additional support from the Wyomissing Foundation, The National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service and Laurance S. Rockefeller, a longtime friend and supporter of Whyte's work. Rutherford H. Platt is director of the Ecological Cities Project at the Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, and organizer of the symposium and related activities. The full list of speakers and other information about the symposium may be found at www.ecologicalcities.org. Or Contact: platt@geo.umass.edu.

1-23-03: FEDERAL INITIATIVE: U.S.DOT RELEASES RULE ON TEA-21: On Thursday, January 23, 2003, the Federal Register published a final rule involving consultation with local officials on transportation matters. The ruling followed five years of negotiations and debate among state DOTs, local officials, regional development organizations, and the U.S. DOT. While states are ultimately responsible for statewide transportation planning, TEA-21 specifies a role for rural officials in the statewide transportation planning process. Under the final rule, states are required to consult with non-metropolitan local officials as they develop their statewide transportation planning process and the statewide transportation improvement program. In consulting with non-metropolitan local officials, states are to confer with them in accordance with a process that will be established and put in place by each state. More specifically, the consultation process must be “separate and discrete” from the public involvement process. Furthermore, the new rule includes a modified definition of “non-metropolitan local official” which was absent in the June 2002 proposal. It retains the enhanced requirement that states confer with local parties before taking actions, considers the views of the local officials and then periodically inform them about actions taken. Finally, it requires each state to document and implement their process within one year. The full text of the notice is found in Volume 68, Number 15, Rules and Regulations, Page 3176 through 3181 and is available from the Federal Register website at: a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-1319.htm

1-11-03: FEDERAL INITIATIVE: U.S. DOT RELEASES 2001 NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD TRAVEL SURVEY: On January 11, the U.S. Department of Transportation unveiled the 2001 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). The survey shows how Americans get around day-to-day, which underpins many discussions on transportation policy and issues. The first data release is available now on the NHTS website, where a free registration is required. Go to nhts.ornl.gov for more information on the survey and access to the database.

BY 2-14-03: FEDERAL INITIATIVE: U.S. EPA GRANTS PROGRAM APPLICATION DUE: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting applications for its Environmental Education Grants Program. This program supports environmental education projects that enhance the public’s awareness, knowledge, and skills to make informed decisions that affect environmental quality. The application deadline is February 14, 2003. For more information, go to: www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html

2-03-03: STATE INTERMODAL SYSTEM RECOMMENDATIONS: The Florida Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) Steering Committee Final Report of Recommendations for Designating Florida's Strategic Intermodal System has been posted on the Florida SIS website at: www11.myflorida.com/planning/sis/steering/report/default.htm#final
Staff intended to distribute the report by e-mail, but due to its size (over 5 megabytes), they are unable to do so. However, the entire document and technical appendices may be downloaded from the website. Questions on the report should be addressed to Mr. Terry Kraft, telephone (850) 414-4801, fax (850) 414-4898, or email: terry.kraft@dot.state.fl.us. 

12-30-02: TOP TEN LEGISLATIVE ISSUES NATIONWIDE FOR 2003: The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) released a statement on December 30, 2002, forecasting its top ten legislative issues for 2003. According to NCSL, state legislators will have to make important decisions on health care, education, election reform, and seven other key issues. According to the statement, declining revenues and growing demands will cause each of the 50 states to make tough budget choices as they attempt to close an estimated $17.5 billion budget gap in the next six months and develop a balanced budget for what is expected to be a leaner fiscal year in 2004. To read the full press release, go to: www.ncsl.org/programs/press/2002/pr021230.htm

2-03-03: EPA GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING: EPA has produced "Community Culture and the Environment: A Guide to Understanding a Sense of Place," which is a toolbox for understanding the social dynamics involved in community-based efforts. As listed in the reports introduction, users will learn about such things as local knowledge about community issues, the language used by community members, influential subgroups within the community, historical trends in the community, environmental and other community priorities, and other social factors. This information is crucial in developing sustainable strategies for community participation and planning regarding environmental protection. For more information, go to www.epa.gov/ecocommunity/tools/community.pdf

2-03-03: BROOKINGS CENTER REPORT ON BABY BOOMERS AND WHERE THEY WILL LIVE WHEN RETIRING: The Brookings Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy released a study by William H. Frey, entitled, "Boomers and Seniors in the Suburbs: Aging Patterns in Census 2000." This analysis addresses the changing age composition of the 102 most populous metropolitan areas between 1990 and 2000 along with the implications for these communities tasked with accommodating a variety of residential services and needs. The report may be read in full at www.brookings.edu/es/urban/publications/freyboomers.htm.

REBUILD AMERICA

STUDY PROVES TREES, WHITE ROOFS SAVES ENERGY

From: A newsletter of American Forests' Cool Communities Program, "Cool &Green", Spring 1999

A new Florida Power and Light study documented that homes shaded by trees have lower energy costs. In some cases, homes reduced summer electric bills by nearly a quarter due to tree shade, and nearly a third due to light-colored roofs. In the three-year study conducted for American Forests' Cool Communities program, trees shading the house saved the average homeowner about 10% off summer utility costs. Tree-shaded homes with tile roofs fared better (12% lower bills) than those with non-tile roofs (8% lower). Light roofing materials also reduced utility bills, with white roofs knocking 15% off average summer utility costs. FPL tested 47 commonly used roofing products and found that: Asphalt shingles reflected only 5% to 25% of the sun's heat away from homes; terra-cotta Spanish tiles reflected 25%; peach-colored tiles reflected 56%; and white tiles reflected 73%. In the most extreme cases, the research predicted that replacing the darkest roof with a white one of the same type would slash summer cooling bills by 32%.

For cooling a South Florida home, the best place to plant trees is in a band to the southeast and southwest of the home, from 5 degrees through 110 degrees to the east and west of due south. Plant short trees nearest the home to gain benefits. Tall-growing trees should be planted further away.

This study was completed in the Miami-Dade Area. For a copy of the study,"Greening and Growing," call 305-372-6555.