Communicating the Costs of Sprawl

About this grant

Numerous studies have documented the negative social, fiscal and environmental impacts of sprawl on urban, suburban and rural communities. These findings were underscored by the recommendations of the bipartisan Michigan Land Use Leadership Council, particularly those calling for solutions to uncoordinated land-use planning among Michigan’s local units of government. At the same time, there has been a tremendous change over the past several years in the way people communicate, gather information and participate in community decisionmaking. With this grant, the Land Information Access Association will initiate a regional communications demonstration project that explores innovative communications methods for stimulating a regionwide discussion on land use. The project will focus on the greater Traverse City region.