A significant financial investment to develop and implement training programs for local officials in 20 New England communities most vulnerable to sprawl. More aggressive use of EPA's statutory authority to oppose and reshape development and infrastructure projects that contribute to sprawl. It's degrading our environment, it's fiscally inefficient and it's undermining our social fabric. In short, it's a bona-fide threat to New England's environmental and economic future. Today's conference included a diverse and powerful coalition of more than 900 developers, conservationists, planners and civic leaders - among those, Vermont Governor Howard Dean, whose state has been in the forefront of smart growth strategies, including new tax incentives to encourage downtown development.
Sprawl is more a problem of maintaining communities than it is a problem of wanton development.
Working with developers and our communities, we can maintain our traditional villages and rural landscapes. It is extremely important that all parties get together to work out real solutions to legitimate problems that will still allow for growth, while meeting the concerns of local municipalities. Rhode Island's population has been stable the past 10 years, yet 26,000 acres of land was developed - an area the size of two Providences. The training program, which is being developed in partnership with state and regional planning agencies, developers and non-profit groups, is expected to be offered in 20 communities over the next two years. EPA will also be conducting Regional Growth Forums in two of the region's fastest growing areas later this year.