Author: Beta Version A Toolkit for Local Government (beta version)
This Toolkit is designed to help local leaders spring from ideas to action; moving the Better Models principles into practice within Pennsylvania’s cities and towns. By utilizing the Toolkit, Pennsylvanians can create a better future for their communities by preserving their state’s natural, historical and cultural resources to improve local economies and enhance Pennsylvania’s cities and towns. Changing long-standing municipal land use practices can be a challenging effort but under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, local governments in Pennsylvania have the authority to prepare comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, subdivision and land development ordinances as well as other tools that will result in better models.
The Toolkit serves as a companion guide to the publication, Better Models for Development in Pennsylvania: Ideas for Creating More Livable and Prosperous Communities, published in 2005 by The Conservation Fund. The original Better Models for Development in Pennsylvania publication and this companion Toolkit are designed and organized to make the transition easier to understand and undertake for municipal officials and residents.
The Toolkit consists of four main pieces:
Note that this Toolkit is a beta version, and we invite your comments and feedback to strengthen the tools and their delivery.
Better Models includes six main land use principles for communities to use to plan and design for the future:
1. Conserve farmland, natural areas and scenic assets
2. Maintain a clear edge between town and countryside
3. Build and maintain livable and attractive communities
4. Preserve historic resources
5. Respect local community character in new construction
6. Reduce the impact of the car and promote walkability
Better Models’ principles for Pennsylvania are associated with conservation and smart growth planning techniques, funding strategies and program support geared toward protecting the countryside, strengthening downtowns and improving the suburbs. This Toolkit follows the six principles to provide users with additional information and tools for implementing Better Models, including:
* real-world examples of municipalities and the techniques they used as they applied the principles in their own communities
* valuable reference materials that provide in-depth information on strategies contained within each principle
* easy access to resources on funding, programs and ordinances to help implement Better Models
* a PDF slide show presentation and accompanying script to help local leaders present the concepts and the rationale for better development in Pennsylvania in a compelling way.
Check out Conservation Leadership Network courses, including Green Infrastructure, Strategic Conservation Planning, Sustainable Tourism and Balancing Nature and Commerce in Communities Adjacent to Public Lands.
For more information, contact Kendra Briechle at
kbriechle@conservationfund.org.
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