| The American Planning Association (APA) is nearing the final stage of its “Growing Smart” initiative. The comprehensive project, which seeks to help states modernize their planning statutes and to create the next generation of model planning laws, is expected to have a dramatic impact on state and local development policies such as Washington’s Growth Management Act (GMA), for decades to come.
The project is producing a legislative guidebook laying out alternative approaches to reform as well as a national planning statute clearinghouse and database. It is also creating within APA the capacity to assist states with reform efforts. APA expects to publish its guidebook this fall.
“Our state and local home builders associations need to be aware that jurisdictions may decide to review their land use and growth management laws as a result of the guidelines,” said Michael Shibley, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) senior staff vice president for regulatory and legal affairs. “This project will affect the ability of state and local governments as well as citizens and development applicants to achieve Smart Growth solutions. We are likely to see a lot of legislative activity on the state and local level when the guidelines are finalized.”
While a number of groups have provided input on the project, NAHB is the only organization representing private sector interests — and specifically the building industry — with a seat on the project’s Policy Directorate, which advises APA on the project.
Proposed: elements within the guidebook welcomed by the home building industry include: strict standards of proportionality on impact fees; the finalization of land-use decisions after one complete application; the statutory requirement to provide affordable housing; and a streamlined development process with a consolidated, one-hearing permit review.
However, NAHB is still working to address some unresolved concerns. These include proposals for using moratoria during preparation of comprehensive plans or when there is a threat to the environment; allowing individuals to challenge site-specific development applications or decisions, even if they are not directly affected by the development; and allowing a majority of residents to rezone a third party’s property.
In December 2000, NAHB communicated to the APA the home building industry’s concerns regarding these proposals. NAHB is awaiting a reply from APA, and will continue to work with APA to resolve these problematic issues. In the meantime, the association is working actively to ensure that information about Growing Smart is received by members who need it. | 
