RenewLV will be hosting the Lehigh Valley’s second annual Summit for Smart Growth and Sustainable Communities on Friday Dec. 5th. This will be a one day conference from 8am-2:25 at the Hotel Bethlehem. Last years conference had over 150 local leaders in attendance.
Topics include: Smart Growth, sustainability and more efficient and responsible local government.
Here are some of the main questions that will be tackled:
- How can we preserve open space while supporting job creation and economic development?
- How can we prevent costly sprawl as an unintended consequence of regionalized water service?
- How do we strengthen our cities and suburbs?
- How can we promote regional cooperation between neighboring municipalities?
I’m very excited to be moderating one of the two main summit panels titled: Land use, open space, farmland and water. Panelists will include members of private sector business, developers, professional planners and representative from county ag and LCA board.
The cost of the summit which includes two meals is $65 dollars per person. For more information and to register visit renewlv.org.
Conference sponsors include: PPL, Just Born, Sam Adams, HDR, Embassy Bank, Brown Daub, Lehigh Valley Health Network, St. Lukes, Spillman Farmer Architects, Morris Black Designs, Norris, Mclaughlin and Marcus, Hanover Engineering and the Sustainable Energy Fund.
RenewLV was launched in 2005 by community leaders in response to a Brookings report that highlighted concerns with: 1.) Sprawling Development and 2.) an antiquated and fragmented system of local government. RenewLV addresses these challenges — a declining urban core, disappearing open space, fragmented local governance — by bringing together a broad range of perspectives and expertise.
