Overview
History
Drivers of Change: Land Use
Agriculture Economy
Economic Development
Trends and Consequences
Strategies and Tactics
State Growth Management Practices
Efficient Land Use
Increase Opportunities
General Plans, Zoning, and Ordinances
Voluntary Agreements
Funding Mechanisms
Definitions
References
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State Growth Management Practices» Policy Strategies to manage growth to achieve agricultural protection By encouraging better-coordinated state growth management practices, policymakers can slow growth on rural lands and preserve more resource production lands for future economic and ecosystem uses. This is not solely relevant in California’s productive heartland of the Central Valley particularly as we begin to incorporate ecosystem benefits like carbon sequestration, water quality and species diversity into the equation. Directing growth to the most appropriate lands can only be managed efficiently at the state level, where functional questions about transportation planning, infrastructure extension, and ecosystem management can be answered at an appropriate scale. Coordinating the use of state financial resources to meet agricultural preservation and resource protection goals is even more important as California begins it next great investments in infrastructure. The regional blue print projects occurring around the state, Sacramento being the prime example, have demonstrated the benefits of regional planning. These efforts forge new partnerships encouraging active participation of state and local government, local residents and other interests in decision-making. Reforming the fiscal relationship between state and local governments should be a key strategy to encourage more efficient land use patterns. Providing local governments the funding certainty they need to plan for smarter growth and incentives to adopt more efficient land use patterns can help create greater capacity for change. Creating productive dialogue around land use planning issues is also critical. By building consensus in communities and focusing capacity and resources on solutions rather than litigation, we can focus resources where they will yield the greatest result. This requires investing in more collaborative decision-making tools.
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