Co-chairs: Cathy McCollom & Ray Reaves 

Our goal is to build on the momentum already achieved by the Smart Land Use Topic Team to develop and implement a regional campaign to pull together the efforts of the many organizations in southwestern Pennsylvania that are committed to smart land use. SP will bring them together as a diverse, potent network focused on a smart land use action agenda (based on the concepts of sustainable development). We have drafted a Smart Land Use Communications Plan that will require input from the team and an eventual funding strategy for full implementation. This plan represents a major campaign to address smart growth in the region. 

Key Areas of Focus: 

• Develop a constituency for promoting smart growth in the region

• Educate the public and decision-makers on smart growth

• Advocate for creation of county comprehensive plans and a regional land use plan that uses infrastructure investment as a means to create incentive for local consistency with the regional plan.

Goals:

• Develop a recognition, awareness and understanding of needs and benefits of smart land use principles with government, politicians, the media, key agencies, partners and the public (go beyond preaching to the choir). 

• Increase the practice of smart land use planning through comprehensive and multi-municipal plans. 

• Curb the rapid pace of sprawl curbed in favor of smart growth development that balances development demands with green space and farmland preservation.