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Instructor:	Robert Parker (rgp@darkwing.uoregon.edu)
Office:	107 Hendricks
Phone:	346-3801
Office Hours:	11-12 am Monday and Wednesday
Class Meeting:	9:30-10:50 am, Monday and Wednesday
Room:	202 Deady Hall

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I. Course Overview

A balanced approach to community development is an essential part of good comprehensive planning. Local governments have long used a variety of approaches to regulate development: comprehensive plans, subdivision and zoning ordinances, and building codes are typical tools used in most American communities. The post-war population and economic boom resulted in significant growth pressures in many communities. The implementation and refinement of growth management practices that were initiated in the 1960s and 1970s promise to be a major focus well into the next century.

This class is designed to introduce you to (1) state and local planning processes, (2) various growth management techniques, and (3) perspectives of professionals engaged in growth management and development. You will learn these various tools and techniques through class discussions, several assignments, and a community case study that will result in a final report and presentation. This class will address the following topics:

• What is growth management?
• The local development review process
• Basic growth management techniques
• State growth management programs
• Growth management in Oregon
• Managing community expansion: where to grow
• Preserving community character—urban design
• Protecting environmental and natural resources: where not to grow
• Managing development of infrastructure
• Growth management in rural areas
• Establishing the dialog: public participation in growth management

The class will be a combination of lectures, guest speakers, and discussions. Lectures will lead into focused discussions of concepts and readings. To supplement the lectures, I’ve lined up a series of guest speakers from various public, private, and non-profit organizations.

II. Reading Materials

1. Douglas R. Porter, Managing Growth in America’s Communities, Island Press, 1997.
2. A reading packet and other materials as assigned.
3. Materials posted on the class WWW site.

III. Grading

Your grade will be determined based on the following:

Category	Weight
Attendance & Participation	10%
Assignments (2)	20%
Midterm (take-home)	30%
Project	40%
Total	100%

Late assignment policy: I strongly discourage submitting assignments late. Late assignments will receive a 20 percent penalty for each day past the due date.

IV. Class Mailing List & Web Page

We also have a mailing list set up for class. I expect you all to sign up for the mailing list. We will post out announcements and other information throughout the term. To join the list, send a message to majordomo@lists.uoregon.edu with the message text:

subscribe sprawl
end

To send a message now, click here.

To supplement discussions, provide class notes and additional information, and post announcements, I have set up a Web site for the class (which you are already aware of if you are reading this). I expect you to use this as a resource throughout the course, since I'll be building it throughout the term you should visit at least once a week. The URL for the main page is:

http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~rgp/GrowthMgmt/Index.htm

V. The Course Project

In mid April I will assign and discuss the course project. The purpose of the project is to apply concepts covered during class to an evaluation of a community or regional growth management program (or lack of one) or a major piece of growth management legislation (e.g., Oregon's Transportation Planning Rule or HB 2709). .

VI. Schedule

The class schedule is posted on the Schedule Page.

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This page maintained by Bob Parker, ©2000
March 25, 2000