Planning in The Age of Sprawl - Hamilton County, Ohio
Planning in The Age of Sprawl - Hamilton County, Ohio
Planning in The Age of Sprawl - Hamilton County, Ohio
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<strong>The</strong> rich diversity <strong>of</strong> op<strong>in</strong>ions on alternative spatial patterns <strong>of</strong> development certa<strong>in</strong>ly creates<br />
a formidable challenge for plann<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the age <strong>of</strong> sprawl. <strong>The</strong> abundance <strong>of</strong> authors on issues<br />
<strong>of</strong> sprawl and spatial framework assures lots <strong>of</strong> alternative strategies for consideration.<br />
However, any attempt to improve the options as to how people <strong>in</strong> <strong>Hamilton</strong> <strong>County</strong> live will<br />
require a hard row aga<strong>in</strong>st powerful currents <strong>of</strong> culture and history. We will need to develop<br />
a long-term future orientation and realize that results must be measured <strong>in</strong> generations rather<br />
than years—an uncommon time horizon <strong>in</strong> contemporary plann<strong>in</strong>g. <strong>The</strong> comprehensive<br />
plann<strong>in</strong>g effort be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>itiated by the <strong>Hamilton</strong> <strong>County</strong> Regional <strong>Plann<strong>in</strong>g</strong> Commission will<br />
help to identify the possibilities, opportunities and problems that exist on the horizon, from<br />
which we can derive a clearly articulated and timeless vision. It will help us to <strong>in</strong>vent ways<br />
we can create growth patterns that are responsive to the needs and values <strong>of</strong> people at all<br />
<strong>in</strong>come levels, and also help ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> <strong>Hamilton</strong> <strong>County</strong>’s quality <strong>of</strong> life and economic<br />
competitiveness. It will help us to <strong>in</strong>tegrate the oppos<strong>in</strong>g forces <strong>of</strong> community and privacy,<br />
auto and pedestrian, large <strong>in</strong>stitution and small bus<strong>in</strong>ess, suburban and urban, pedestrianfriendly<br />
and auto convenient. Proposed major improvements <strong>in</strong> the <strong>Hamilton</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
Regional <strong>Plann<strong>in</strong>g</strong> Commission’s committee structure and new <strong>in</strong>itiatives <strong>in</strong> comprehensive<br />
countywide plann<strong>in</strong>g are <strong>in</strong>tended to capture the values and perceptions <strong>of</strong> people from the<br />
three sectors <strong>of</strong> our society--public, private and civic. We encourage your participation as<br />
we launch this important dialogue.<br />
Notes<br />
1<br />
Dowell Myers and Alicia Kitsuse, “<strong>The</strong> Debate Over Future Density <strong>of</strong> Development:<br />
An Interpretive Review”. L<strong>in</strong>coln Institute <strong>of</strong> Land Policy, 1999. This paper provides a<br />
comprehensive assessment <strong>of</strong> the density debate <strong>in</strong> California as it is conducted <strong>in</strong> “Beyond<br />
<strong>Sprawl</strong>: New Patterns <strong>of</strong> Growth to Fit the New California” and “Preserv<strong>in</strong>g the American<br />
Dream: <strong>The</strong> Truth About Suburban Communities and Hous<strong>in</strong>g Choice”, rival reports<br />
published <strong>in</strong> 1995 with the respective sponsorship <strong>of</strong> Bank <strong>of</strong> America and Wells Fargo<br />
Bank.<br />
12<br />
HCRPC<br />
PLANNING IN THE AGE OF SPRAWL
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