Create a technical assistance academy
Action
In order to plan sensibly, local governments must understand how their regulations, codes, and ordinances enable or discourage the development of compact, mixed-use, and walkable communities. To assist communities in gaining this understanding, a state can create a technical assistance academy. A statewide technical assistance program can help local governments determine how to best incorporate smart growth development practices in their codes and ordinances. The academy can also provide a forum for information exchange between communities and the state’s planning department, as well as a means to identify, concentrate, and offer technical assistance resources that may be scattered throughout many agencies of state government.
Process
A technical assistance academy can take a number of different forms, such as a virtual academy accessible through the Internet. A virtual academy would provide a one-stop-shop for all growth-related technical assistance programs or services in the state, including those provided by the state, educational institutions, and other related organizations, such as the state chapters of the American Planning Association or National Association of Realtors®. An example of an existing virtual information clearinghouse is Smart Growth Online.
Whatever approach is taken, it is usually beneficial to utilize the existing resources of the state’s higher education institutions. Many of these institutions likely deliver technical assistance and training to planners, planning commission members, and elected officials throughout the state. Creating an academy that leverages these existing efforts could save time and money.
The academy should provide tools and outreach efforts that encourage local governments to better coordinate planning of infrastructure investment and development, to update and improve their zoning, and to facilitate exemplary development. Technical assistance should also be used to help communities that do not have sufficient planning capacity to address the challenges of growth.
Examples
- Georgia’s Quality Growth Partnership
The Quality Growth Partnership is an alliance between state, local, and regional governments, non-profits, and the University of Georgia that aims to promote education and awareness about the implications of urban sprawl. The Partnership believes that this increased education and awareness will encourage those involved in urban growth and development to utilize efficient land use and smart growth techniques.
— Georgia’s Quality Growth Partnership
