Why Manage Growth?
Rapid population growth and development are nothing new, and there are no states that are excluded. Starting with the gold and silver rushes of the mid-nineteenth century and ending with the dotcom and telecom boom at the conclusion of the twentieth century, much of history has taken place in the shadow of surging growth and development. And whether it’s a mining town that springs up almost overnight on the hillsides around Cripple Creek or a large master planned subdivision appearing on the urban fringe of a large metro area, the impacts on the landscape and region – both positive and negative - are far reaching.
While this growth has brought significant benefits to the state in the form of job generation
and increased economic development and commerce, it has not come without a cost. Residents today lament the ills of urban sprawl: traffic congestion, soulless strip malls and “big box” stores, loss of open space and farmland and worsening air and water pollution. These side effects of development have affected the overall quality of life in the region – historically one of real estate's best selling points.
Citizen outcry over urban sprawl has already resulted in several attempted ballot measures. In addition to statewide measures, there have been dozens of local ballot measures introduced offering voters a referendum on growth policies, including the use of growth caps and bans on certain big box developments.
Population growth shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. During the most recent population boom in the 1990s, the state of Colorado had the third fastest growth rate in the country, trailing only Arizona and Nevada.
In the face of this rapid growth and growing voter discontent, local governments are increasingly turning to better land use planning to effectively manage growth and create communities that will have lasting and sustainable value. Terms like “smart growth,” “new urbanism” and “mixed-use development” are finding their way into the public dialogue as communities seek ways to maximize the positive impacts of growth while minimizing the very real negative impacts.
You can learn more about how Growth is managed and directed by taking our Growth Management course online, a part of our MRE, Master of Real Estate series.
This course focuses on the management of growth in Colorado. After an overview of the reasons why communities pursue programs to manage growth, many of the tools for growth management are described. Some of the key policy issues associated with growth management are discussed, including the use of urban growth boundaries, the impact of growth management on development costs, and the issue of sprawl. Finally, three case studies are presented to illustrate how some communities have employed growth management policies and programs.
Learning objectives:
To understand the policy objectives of growth management programs;
To learn about many of the specific tools and techniques of growth management;
To consider some of the most significant policy issues associated with growth management; and
To see how some sample communities approach the overall question of managing growth. Click below to register online;
Growth Management - Managing growth – Maximizing benefits, Minimizing impacts
