Improving Environmental Land Use Decision-Making In Small Communities and Rural Areas

Abstract

[First Paragraph] Environmental issues bombard American communities and regions daily. The ability of planners and public officials to successfully resolve or mitigate these issues relates to the way American communities make land use decisions. This paper describes an approach to planning that better integrates environmental considerations into the land use decision-making process. The methodology described below is not simple, nor are the issues that it addresses simple issues, but it illustrates the type of systematic approach needed to successfully resolve existing - as well as minimize future -issues involving the environment and land use decision-making.