MARYLAND'S "SMART GROWTH": USING INCENTIVES TO COMBAT SPRAWL. IN: URBAN SPRAWL: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND POLICY RESPONSES

Beginning in 1997, Maryland's state government passed a series of laws that make up the so-called Smart Growth Initiatives. The initiatives include: (1) the Smart Growth Areas Act, which directs state funding into already developed areas and areas planned for growth; (2) the Rural Legacy Act, which establishes a grant program allowing local governments and private land trusts to purchase easements and development rights in rural legacy areas; (3) the Brownfields Voluntary Cleanup and Revitalization Programs, which attempt to stimulate the reuse of contaminated properties; (4) the Job Creation Tax Credit Program which provides tax credits to encourage businesses to expand or relocate in Maryland; and (5) the Live Near Your Work Program, which creates incentives for employees to buy homes near their workplaces. This paper provides a historical overview of the program and discusses each program in detail, especially in terms of their potential for sprawl prevention and urban revitalization. The impact of these initiatives on preventing sprawl and revitalizing cities and inner suburbs in a way that benefits low- and moderate-income households is also evaluated. Although Maryland's smart growth program is innovative, its success will depend on four major factors: adequate infrastructure funding in targeted growth areas; sufficient incentives to convince households and businesses to make decisions that are consistent with smart growth principles; sustained public sector support for smart growth initiatives; and the creation and utilization of benchmarks to assess how smart growth is functioning.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0877667098
• Corporate Authors:

  Urban Institute

  2100 M Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20037
• Authors:
  • Cohen, J R
• Publication Date: 2002

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 293-324
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Urban Institute
  • Publisher: Urban Institute

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brownfields; Government funding; Incentives; Infrastructure; Job opportunities; Low income groups; Middle income groups; Policy analysis; Residents; Rural development; Smart growth; State government; Taxation; Urban development; Urban sprawl; Workplaces
• Geographic Terms: Maryland
• Subject Areas: Finance; Law; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00967153
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0877667098
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 11 2003 12:00AM