I am so happy the presentation below is coming to Lower Macungie. Big thanks to our professional planner and staff for facilitating this. This is EXACTLY why I ran for office. I don’t like to pigeon hole myself by saying I have any kind of single agenda, but if I had to define one this would be it.
To me the fiscal sustainability of land development decisions IS smart growth. Smart growth is a big nebulous term. And people subscribe to it for different reasons. Quality of Life, Social Equity, Environmental. And yes, I think there is merit in all these conversations. But for me, none is more important for the Lower Macungie and the greater Lehigh Valley then the financial argument for smart growth.
Here in Lower Macungie that means conducting a cost benefit analysis to major development projects and all requests for rezoning of large tracts. Scattered, disconnected, low-quality sprawling growth is a wealth destroyer. The model we have subscribed to pushes off many of the liabilities of sprawl to subsequent generations. We have to break the pattern. It’s happening right now in Lower Macungie as we face the dedication of new roadways and storm water management facilities from the “growth boom”. We’re only now facing the problems of living off of one time revenue and windfall of growth without addressing financial sustainability.
The key for Lower Mac is “smart growth” on the Hamilton Corridor where we have already made key infrastructure investments and preservation of remaining open space tracts in the western portion of the township.
The quality of life case is obvious. But the fiscal argument is irrefutable. I hope this conversation gives us some more tools to start these conversations.
Nobody makes the fiscal argument better then Jim Bacon.
Join the American Planning Association, Pennsylvania Chapter, Lehigh Valley Section & Lehigh Valley Planning Commission for the fourth presentation in our Web/Audio Conference Series for Professional Planners, Municipal Officials & Interested Citizens
FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS AS A DECISION SUPPORT TOOL
DECEMBER 4TH, 2013
4-5 PM AT LOWER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP, 3400 BROOKSIDE ROAD, MACUNGIE
DESCRIPTION: Until recently, few jurisdictions prepared their own fiscal impact analyses to assist land-use decisions. But since the economic downturn, local governments have increasingly turned to fiscal and economic analysis as a decision support tool, particularly with an eye toward return on investment. This lecture concentrates on distinguishing between fiscal and economic impacts, understanding differences in local government revenue structures and how they influence the fiscal results from different land uses, and investigating how various communities use fiscal impact analyses to support planning and economic development decisions. Experts from the American Planning Association will be presenting.
There is no cost to participate. To register e-mail Kathleen Sauerzopf kms@lvpc.org or call 610-264-4544
Hope to see you there!
Becky Bradley – Executive Director of LVPC