JOE NATION ON SMART GROWTH

By Joe Nation

This outlines the development of a "smart growth" plan for California and the North Bay.

This statewide general plan would require regional determination of the appropriate areas for smart growth. Smart growth principles include:
1. Provide incentives for city-centered and transit-oriented development
2. Ensure a regional perspective on economic and environmental issues
3. Using land more efficiently, particularly in established urban centers, to ensure the safeguarding of natural resources.

Smart growth also requires a complete re-work of the state-local financial relationship. For example, the current fiscalization of land-use encourages the development of retail shops that bring sales tax revenue, rather than housing and high-value jobs. Other key financial aspects of smart growth include:
1. Link property-based services with property-based revenues. (The current system does not value the creation of housing or high productivity jobs. Also, the reliance on retail facilities provides a volatile source of revenue for local government. )
2. Allow cities and counties to pass local revenue initiatives during general elections with a simple majority vote
3. Restrict state government's ability to cut general fund property tax revenues to local governments or to impose unfunded mandates.