Sustaining Sustainability isn’t Always Easy

Article by Mary Newson, Citiwire.net. Posted March 5, 2010, DavidsonNews.net   http://bit.ly/aOZdGx

Excellent article on sustainable growth ideals dampened through time and political change. The question remains, can we produce sustainable communities meeting the test of time with our current land use and planning approach? In my opinion, no. Why? Local politics layered with regional, state and federal controls of real estate development and their total lack of structural flexibility does not promote innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Government is slow to react to changes and in most cases remains a road block for the industry to adequately address market shifts.

A simple example, if you wanted to start a business and work from home to generate cash flow, most local zoning ordinances would not permit this use in a residential area.

Definition:  “A sustainable community effort consists of a long-term, integrated, systems approach to developing and achieving a healthy community by jointly addressing environmental, economic and social issues.

Fostering a strong sense of community and building partnerships and consensus among key stakeholders are also important elements of such efforts”

Beth Lachman, Critical Technologies Institute, April 1977