The following links are alphabetized by topic. Please check back often, as we are in the process of adding literally hundreds of resources to this page.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Agriculture

American Farmland Trust - An orgnization dedicated to education and preservation as pertaining to farmland.

 

Air Pollution

Links

Clean Air Act - This site discusses the multiple versions of the Clean Air Act that have been enacted in the years since 1955. An excellent resource for those looking for a (relatively) simple overview.

EPA: Air Trends - This page contains information collected by the EPA regarding the levels of specified air pollutants.

EPA: Guide to the Clean Air Act - This EPA guide is a description of the Clean Air Act. It is an excellent beginning resouce for this topic because it is specifically written for the layman.

EPA: Latest Findings on National Air Quality - This reort from the EPA details several major threats to the environment, as well as providing some insight into what the future might entail.

NADP Library - The National Atmospheric Deposition Program website is full of excellent and detailed information on air quality trends.

National Asthma Control Plan - A website devoted to limited the harmful effects of environmental stimuli on asthmatic citizens.

Documents

EPA Emissions Trends Charts - These charts chronicle the change of atmospheric pollutant levels between 1900 and 1998. An excellent resource.

EPA Emissions Trends: Executive Summary - An in-depth discussions of ways in which we may reduce the quantities of harmful pollutants entering the atmosphere.

EPA: Proposal on The Prohibition of MTBE - An EPA proposal discussing the possibility of the prohibtion of the potentially dangerous gasoline additive MTBE.

 

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Arsenic

Arsenic in Pressure Treated Wood - This site discusses the benefits and dangers of wood pressure treatment processes that utilize arsenic.

Canadian Medical Association Journal – A discussion of the arsenic issue from our neighbors to the North.

CCA Playground Factsheet - This page discusses the facts surrounding the use of wood containing chromated copper arsenate (CCA) in playground equipment.

CCAResearch provides some interesting information that is hard to find elsewhere. Check out their RCRA Presentation under General Information. Even though it takes a long time to load, even with high speed Internet access, it is worth the effort.

Consumer Protection Safety Commission Fact Sheet - This link will take you to the CCA fact sheet prepared by the CPSC. Much more detailed information is available by reviewing the links to the briefing documents located at the bottom of the page.

Environmental Working Group – This organization is extremely active in the effort to ban CCA based products and their website is extremely robust. It contains a great deal of information on the CCA issue as well as on numerous other topics. Check out their home page while you are there and make sure you take a look at their articles “All Hands on Deck” and “Poisoned Playgrounds”.

Environmental Working Group: All Hands on Deck - This article details the dangers of arsenic in structures built with pressure-treated wood, especially decks and playgrounds.

Environmental Working Group: Arsenic Index - This document provides a handy factsheet for those interested in arsenic as it relates to environmental issues.

Environmental Working Group: CCA Wood on Home-Improvement Store Shelves - This article discusses the likely possibility that consumers at home improvement stores are receiving CCA-treated wood.

Environmental Working Group: Poisoned Playgrounds - This article covers the potentially catastrophic effects of arsenic in pressure treated wood, should the arsenic leak from the wood.

EPA: Ban on CCA - This EPA news item contains important information about CCA, as well as some insight into why industry leaders voluntarily agreed to shift the products away from consumer uses.

EPA Info – This link provides access to a number of EPA documents regarding CCA products.

Pressure Treated Wood Arsenic Lawsuits - This website provides detailed information on CCA and its effects. It also has information on finding legal counsel should it be necessary to pursue action in that direction.

Sierra Club – The New Hampshire Chapter has done an admirable job of providing access to information on CCA issues. Check them out.

St. Petersburg Times – News stories on CCA issues from Florida.

Tampa Parks Department Makes Al Lopes Park Off-Limits - This article from the St. Petersburg Times provides an excellent specific example of the dangers of CCA-treated wood, and the impacts, both direct and indirect, that it can have on the community.

 

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Big Box Retail

Links

AlterNet: How Wal-Mart is Remaking Our World - This article provides some insight into the dangers that excessively large corporations pose for the general public, as well as the negative impacts ad by these stores on communities both here and abroad.

AlterNet: Wal-Mart Shops for Voters - Adisturbing article describing incidents in which Wal-Mart used higher wages as an incentive for workers to vote against anti-big box legislation.

Belling the Box: Planning For Large-Scale Retail Stores - This page provides excellent guidelines for community leaders looking to either stop big box retailers, or at least to minimize their impact.

Big Box Inquiry - This article is designed to provide answers for community planners looking to know more about big box retail as it relates to them.

Big Box Retail - This Columbia University report is an excellent beginner's resource, as it provides a highly useful overview of big box retail.

Big Box Sprawl (And How to Control It) - This helpful article explains the potential damages of bix box expansion, and provides some ideas for community leaders looking to stop them.

Does Ithaca Need Wal-Mart? - This article, while discussing a specific situation, provides an excellent breakdown of the exact costs that a big box retailer can bring to any town.

How to Stop Wal-Mart - This length guide is designed to suggest practical solutions for community leaders looking to stop big box retailers from expanding into their municipalities.

The Impact of Big Box Retail Chains on Small Businesses - This article details the negative impacts that big box retailers can have on small communities, with special emphasis on the impact had on small businesses.

K-Mart, the Big Box, and the Role of Planning in American Cities - This article provides some insights into the negative impacts a failed bix box store can have on a community, but also provides some commentary on those retailers that succeed.

The Locational Impact of Wal-Mart Entrance - An interesting study based on data collected in West Virginia, it details the potential influence that a new Wal-Mart could have on local economies.

Robinson-Patman Act - An excellent guide to an important law for those interested in controlling big box retail.

Robinson-Patman Act: General Principles - A speech given by Donald S. Clark, secretary of the Federal Trade Commission, regarding this law.

The Shils Report - This report on the potential (and likely) negative impacts of big box retail is absolutely critical and is necessary reading for just about any concerned community leader.

Sprawl-Busters - An absolute treasure trove of anti-sprawl information, with special focus on big box retail.

Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Comes to Town - This PBS page is an excellent resource detailing the battles communities face when trying to determine their own destinies.

Wal-Mart: Overtime Lawsuits - An overview of several lawsuits alleging that Wal-Mart wrongly acted to keep employees from getting their full wages.

Wal-Mart and the Southern Tradition - An interesting article discussing the potential benefits and dangers of having a big box retailer move into a local municipality, with a special emphasis on preserving Southern character.

Wal-Mart Watch - This site contains a wealth of information on the negative actions of the retail giant, as well as some more generalized articles from outside sources.

Who Benefits When Wal-Mart Comes to Town? - This articles analyzes whether the convenience and low prices provided by big box retailers are worth the potential damage.

Documents

Impact of the Wal-Mart Phenomenon on Rural Communities - A report on the strong evidence that big box retailers have an adverse effect on their communities.

The Impact of Big Box Grocers on Southern California - A study showing that aggressive-entry big box retailers could have a drastic negative impact on the communities they enter.

Energy Efficiency and Opportunities: Big Box Retail and Supermarkets - A report on making the best of having a big boxretailer in your community, along with some guides for aesthetic improvement.

 

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Billboards

Billboard and Sign Control - A resource for local officials looking to limit the negative aesthetic impacts of billboards and other signs in their communities.

 

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Bridges

Bridge Basics - A general guide of identifying characteristics for bridges.

Historic Iron and Steel Truss Bridge Links Page - A link archive for those looking for information on historic iron and steel truss bridges.

PennDOT: Cultural Resources - This site contains a wealth of information on historic structures, and has information on their preservation.

Pennsylvania's Project Keystone - This site is the homepage for PennDOT's project devoted to the preservation of Pennsylvania's stone arch bridges.

Preserving the Future of Pennsylvania's Bridges - The Federal Highway Administration's article on bridge preservation is an excellent resource for community leaders looking to preserve their historic bridges.

Saving Indiana's Spans - An interesting article detailing the serious dangers faced by some of Indiana's historic bridges. It also details many situations that can affect other locations.

Standards For the Treatment of Historic Properties - This guide from the Secretary of the Interior lays out some important guidelines for those looking to preserve historic structures.

 

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Brownfields

Brownfields Center - This site provides a very comprehensive guide to brownfields, and is an excellent reference tool for those looking for information.

Brownfield Golf - A site dedicated to redeveloping brownfields for recreational purposes, of which golf is an example.

The Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technology Support Center - An EPA page on investigation, cleanup methods and other technological information regarding brownfields.

The Center for Brownfields Initiatives at the University of New Orleans - Includes a listing of brownfield sites around the country, an information source list, and some international brownfields information.

EPA: Brownfields Homepage - This page is filled with useful information, stories, and links relating to brownfields.

Financing For Brownfield Redvelopment - This page provides important information on ways in which brownfield redevelopment can be financed, and it also lists some potential sources for funding.

General Services Administration, Brownfields Redevelopment Initiative - Another government program which identifies and redevelops brownfield sites. Website includes case studies and property mapping.

US Department on Housing and Urban Development, Brownfields Economic Development Initiative - An example of a government grant program designed to alleviate the troubles of communities plagued by many brownfields sites.

 

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Cell Phone Towers

EMR Network - A site devoted to the responsible use of electromagnetic radiation, it has a great variety of information, as well as an excellent links section.

 

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Court Decisions

D.C. District Court Opinion On the Tulloch Rule - A ruling clarifying the definition of "discharge" as it relates to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

Pennsylvania Legal Research Web Sites - A very large listing of websites for those needing information on Pennsylvania law.

Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System - A guide to the Pennsylvania court system, with a great deal of information, including court opinions.

Prohibiting Moratoriums on New Development - An outline of an important Pennsylvania court decision limiting a municipality's right to impose temporary moratoriums on land use.

 

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Economic Issues

The End of Economic Growth - This highly informative page provides significant insight into the economic issues facing us today.

 

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Education

Center For Education Reform - This page contains a wealth of resources on educational reform, with special focus on charter laws.

Education Funding in Pennsylvania - This page provides a budgetary breakdown of Pennsylvania's school systems.

Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units - Intermediate Units are an important innovation in education, and this site provide an excellent explanation of what they are, as well as a wealth of other information.

Pennsylvania Department of Education - This site is a must-see for any type of information relating to education in Pennsylvania.

 

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Environment

Environmental Literacy Council - This page provides a wealth of environmental resources, as well as an excellent section on the relationship between environment and society.

Environmental News Network - This page is full of the most recent environmentally themed news, and it is an excellent resource for both local officials and concerned citizens.

Environmental Working Group - This organization specializes in investigating matters of environmental misuse, and it is an excellent resource for anyone who considers themself an environmentalist.

The Heartland Institute - This page provides a wealth of information on the environment, education, and health care. It also rovides a searchable database of 13,000 public policy documents.

National Resources Defense Council - This organization provides a wealth of environmentally themed information, as well as current events.

Planetizen - An excellent environmentalist resource. It also provides links to books and courses.

 

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Fun

Dumb Laws - This site provides a by-state listing of silly laws.

Golden Fleece Awards - Provided by Taxpayers for Common Sense, this list points out instances of stupid uses of tax dollars.

How Things Work - The title is self explanatory. This page provides education on how basic natural processes occur.

Quotes on Planning - An excellent archive of quotes relating to planned growth.

Sign Language - This collection of bizarre road signs is great for a good chuckle.

Why Bad Beliefs Don't Die - An interesting article explaining the biological reasons for why we can't seem to shake some of our worst beliefs.

 

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Funding Sources

Sustainable Communities Network - A guide for concerned individuals, it provides general information as well as potential funding sources.

Preservation PA - This organization is devoted to assiting Pennsylvania communities in protecting their historic resources.

 

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General Resources

Government Science Portal - A government resource, full of excellent general scientific information.

Local Government Commission - This page is designed with the local official in mind, and it provides a wealth of information for those looking to improve and protect their communities.

 

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Government

2000 Pennsylvania Statutes - This page contains a list of every Pennsylvania statute enacted in 2000, along with a link to the text of the legislation.

2002 Pennsylvania Statutes - This page contains a list of every Pennsylvania statute enacted in 2000, along with a link to the text of the legislation.

Bucks County Official Page - This page is highly useful, both for current events and some general information about the county.

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission - DVRPC works to foster regional cooperation in a nine-county, two state area. City, county and state representatives work together to address key issues, including transportation, land use, environmental protection and economic development.

EPA: Laws and Regulations - This page has excellent links to governmental sources, with special focus on environmental laws.

EPA: Mid-Atlantic States Home Page - This site is the EPA homepage for the Mid-Atlantic states. It is an excellent source of information and current events.

EPA: Major Environmental Laws - This EPA list has some important laws for the environmentalist to know.

Federal Highway Administration - The FHA is a resource not to be missed when dealing with a road in your community, but it also has a number of excellent guides on other topics, such as roundabouts.

Federal Transit Administration - This site has excellent information, as well as business solutions and grant possibilities.

Find Your PA State Legislator - An excellent way to find out who your legislator is, and how to contact them.

Pennsylvania Code - The Pennsylvania Code, posted online

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - The homepage for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Pennsylvania General Assembly - The homepage for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, his can prove to be a useful resource.

Pennsylvania General Assembly: Bill Room - A searchable index of Pennsylvania's bills.

Pennsylvania Law - This page has a number of useful links for state laws and legal research within Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Senate - The homepage for the Pennsylvania Senate, this can prove to be a useful resource.

State Statutes - This site provides links to state laws and constitutions for all fifty states, as well as some others.

THOMAS - This United States Congress resource page is perhaps one of the single most useful sites on this page due to its in-depth chronicling of congressional activity.

US Department of the Interior - The homepage of the United States Department of the Interior, this site has a great deal of useful information, especially pertaining to parks, water, energy, and conservation.

US Department of Transportation - This page provides a great deal of useful information, especially with regard to safety, laws, and budgetary issues.

 

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Home Builders

National Association of Home Builders - (Counterpoint) This site has useful information, as well as some topic-related current events.

 

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How Government Works

Summary of Environmental Law in the United States - This page provides an excellent overview of the mechanics of the United States Government before going into much greater detail on environmental issues.

 

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Innovative Planning

Congress For the New Urbanism - New Urbanism is a movement dedicated to innovation in planning. This site is definitely worth visiting.

The Cottage Company - This company claims to provide high-quality smaller houses paired with innovative planning. Visit them and see for yourself.

Green Building Council - The U.S. Green Building Council consists of building industry members working to promote environmentally and socially responsible building.

 

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Land Preservation

Agricultural Land Preservation - This site provides information on the various different methods of acquiring open space for preservation.

Chester County Open Space Program - Some useful documents and ordinances that can be used as samples.

PreserveNet - Cornell University's online database for all things preservation-related.

Resource Protection Initiatives - An excellent article on providing incentives to private landowners to encourage them to preserve their land.

Saving Open Space - An interesting piece on the need to preserve open space versus community reluctance to spend the money to do so.

Trust for Public Land - The Trust for Public Land is the only national nonprofit working exclusively to protect land for human enjoyment and well-being.

 

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Land Use

Center For Community Economic Development - This organization is dedicated to providing multidisciplinary information regarding community change and community opportunities.

Pennsylvania Land Use - The homepage for the Pennsylvania "Growing Smarter" initiative, a collective effort to plan for the future health and vitality of Pennsylvania's communities.

 

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Laws

Introduction to US Environmental Law - An excellent overview of the National Environmental Policy Act, among other things.

Land Use Law In Pennsylvania - This page contains a listing of many important land use laws.

National Environmental Policy Act Links - A large number of useful links pertaining to NEPA.

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 - NEPA is one of the most important laws for the environmentalist to know, and as such, should be required reading for anyone interested in protecting their community.

NEPA Case Law - A guide from the Federal Aviation Administration on major case law relating to NEPA

NEPAnet Case Law Review - A guide to major court cases interpreting NEPA.

Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code - This is one of the most critical documents one could read, local officials and concerned citizens alike.

Pennsylvania Sunshine Act - The Sunshine Act protects the openness of municipal meetings, and this guide can be very helpful, should one need to use this law.

Second Class Township Code - The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors web page provides this searchable database of the Second Class Township Code.

 

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Light Pollution

International Dark-Sky Association - Perhaps the premier website for light pollution information, this group provides a great deal of excellent information.

LightLynx - A massive resource with literally hundreds of light pollution links.

Light Pollution Awareness Site - This site is an excellent resource for those interested in light pollution, especially for those who are currently unfamiliar with the topic.

Light Pollution Information - Another excellent resource on light pollution with a great deal of information.

New England Light Pollution Advisory Group - NELPAG is a group devoted to limiting the damage done by light pollution.

 

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Link Pages

Pennsylvania Local Government Commission - A huge list of online resources relating to Pennsylvania.

Regional Planning Links - The Open Directory's listing on urban and regional planning is a tremendously useful resource.

Sierra Club Sprawl Links - An excellent resource with hundreds of sprawl-related links.

 

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New Urbanism

About New Urbanism - An article detailing the basic tenets of new urbanism.

Brookings Institute Metropolitan Policy Program – Numerous articles on modern urban / suburban issues including housing and transportation. Check out their home page for a full idea of the scope of the subjects that are covered by this Washington based think tank.

Charrett Institute - The National Charrette Institute (NCI) helps people build community capacity for collaboration to create healthy community plans.

Congress for the New Urbanism - This web site has some useful information if you search around.

Katarxis - KATARXIS is a new webzine dedicated exclusively to a New Traditional Architecture and Urbanism: one that in its vernacular and classical expressions, incorporates a re-evaluation of the many World Cultures; includes the humanist heritage of the West and the East; and acknowledges the evidence of New Sciences, and the positive logistics of the contemporary world.

National Resources Defense Council: Smart Growth - This page contains in-depth information, as well as more toned-down briefings on smart growth priciples, and how they can be used to limit harmful sprawl.

National Town Builder's Association - A group of town builders committed to the successful development of smart growth neighborhoods that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

New Urbanism - A clearinghouse for information pertaining to New Urbanism. Also, it has a services marketplace with listings for contractors, architects, and other professionals who specialize in helping to create communities following the principles of new urbanism.

New Urbanism Links - A personal webpage with a huge archive of links pertaining to new urbanism.

Seaside Institute - When the town of Seaside, Florida was created, it was the first manifestation of what has since become known as the New Urbanism. This return to the traditional neighborhood as a model has changed the way builders and planners view development, world-wide.

Smart Communities Network - A clearinghouse for information relating to the new urbanism and sutainable development.

Smart Growth Online - An informative web site devoted to spreading the ideas upon which smart growth is founded.

Sustainable Communities Network - A web page devoted to networking like-minded individuals and providing information and discourse relating to smart growth and sustainable communities.

Virtual World: The New Suburb? - A National Geographic article showing the evolution of the New Urbanism.

Walkable Communities, Inc. - A Florida-based non-profit organization devoted to making communities more walkable and pedestrian-friendly.

WalkingInfo.org - Also known as the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. The PBIC is a clearinghouse for information about health and safety, engineering, advocacy, education, enforcement and access and mobility.

 

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Organizations

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania - An alliance of individuals and organizations dedicated to strengthening Pennsylvania's communities and limiting sprawl.

The Brookings Institution - The Brookings Institution is a nonpartisan think tank devoted to research and public education, with emphasis on economics, foreign policy, governance, and metropolitan policy.

The Bucks County Web Connection - The Bucks County Web Connection is a group that archives links to any page pertaining to Bucks County.

The Center For Rural Pennsylvania - The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency that serves as a resource for rural policy within the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Delaware Riverkeeper Network - A group dedicated to preserving the natural balance of the delaware river and its streams.

National Association of Environmental Professionals - A group of environmental professionals dedicated to the promotion of environmentalist ideas worldwide.

National Center For Policy Analysis - The NCPA is a group dedicated to the solving of public problems with private-sector innovations.

Raymond Profitt Foundation - The Raymond Profitt Foundation is a group dedicated to ensuring the enforcement of environmental laws.

SHAPE - Sensible Highway Alternatives to Protect the Environment is a group devoted to smart growth alternatives to highway expansion.

Sierra Club: National Organization - The Sierra Club is a conservationist group devoted to promoting positive environmental public policy.

Sierra Club: Pennsylvania Chapter

Smart Growth - Smart Growth is a group devoted to promoting innovative solutions to the problem of sprawl.

Sprawl Watch - Sprawl Watch is a group dedicated to stopping spread of suburban sprawl.

WHYY - WHYY is Philadelphia's nonprofit public broadcasting station.

 

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Pennsylvania

2000 Pennsylvania Census Demographic Profiles - This site has demographic breakdowns for Pennsylvania as reported by the 2000 census.

Highlights of Pennsylvania's Agriculture 1982-1992 - This small but highly useful chart gives many excellent general statistics regarding Pennsylvania's farms.

InventPA - This site is focused on providing easy-to-use programs and online initiatives for both individuals and businesses based in Pennsylvania.

K-12 Schools: General Information - The title says it all. An excellent site for information relating to Pennsylvania's K-12 education programs.

Pennsylvania Constitution - The Pennsylvania constitution provides the backbone for state law, and as such, it is a highly useful resource.

Pennsylvania Laws and Codes - This index of Pennsylvania law is an absolutely critical resource for the environmentalist looking for the means to prevent ecological destruction in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities - This group is dedicated to preserving the autonomy of local governments. As such, there is a wealth of information to be had for concerned citizens and local officials alike.

Pennsylvania Overview - This document provides an "at a glance" look at the basic structures and functions of government in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania State Data Center - This site is an excellent resource for a vast variety of information on Pennsylvania's counties and municipalities.

What Are the Local Taxes in Pennsylvania? - This page explains exactly what is taxed by local municipalities in Pennsylvania, and why.

 

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Planning

About Planning - This site is full of excellent information for those who are interested in controlling the future of their communities.

American Institution of Certified Planners - The homepage of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Some free things but much of the material is available only to members or for a fee. Still, if you need a particular article from the AICP Journal, it is easier to download it than to try and track it down.

Community Planning - This site contains a very large amount of information on community planning, and how to use it to your advantage.

PlannersWeb - A web site filled with information on planning and planning strategies.

Revolutionary Ideas In Planning - The proceedings of the 1998 National Planning Conference.

 

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Population Trends

1999 Metropolitan Areas List - The official White House list of the metropolitan areas in the United States.

Revised Standards for Defining Metropolitan Areas in the 1990s - The US Census Bureau's new standards for the definition of metropolitan areas.

US Census: Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Definitions - This is important reading for those looking to understand the basis for statistical boundaries.

 

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Property Rights

Property Rights Links - Provided by the Open Directory Project, these links provide valuable information on emminent domain, forfeiture, public access, and regulatory takings.

 

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Regulatory Takings

American Planning Association - Visit the APA's website for more information regarding the organization's position on the takings issue, as well as some information regarding takings in the courts and Congress.

Cato Congressional Testimony - Delivered in 1995 by Roger Pilon, Director of the Center for Constitutional Studies of the Cato Institute before the Subcommittee on Constitution, Committee on Judiciary.

Congressional Budget Office Report: "Regulatory Takings and Proposals for Change" - This December 1998 report provides a good introduction to some issues surrounding the regulatory takings debate, and an examination of several proposed congressional measures.

Georgetown Environmental Law and Policy Institute - An absolutely essential site for anyone concerned with the environmental ramifications of the regulatory takings issue. Extensive analysis of takings in court and in Congress.

"The Measuring Stick of Regulatory Takings: A Biological and Cultural Analysis" - Written by Raymond Coletta, Professor of Law at the University of the Pacific. A wonderful analysis of the emotional and cultural basis of the rhetoric surrounding property rights and regulatory takings, as well as a good legal introduction to the issues.

"Regulatory Takings After Lucas" - Written by Henry Butler, Professor of Law and Economics at the University of Kansas, and published in the Cato Institute's "Regulation" publication. A good example of property rights point of view as applied in a variety of instances

"Regulatory Takings: Implementation of Executive Order on Government Actions Affecting Private Property Use"
This 2003 GAO (General Accounting Office) report provides very useful quantitative data on the levels and frequencies of government compensation for regulatory takings, as well as information about the implementation of President Reagan's Executive Order on the subject.

 

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Roundabouts

Alaska Roundabouts - This page is devoted to the promotion of roundabouts, both in the Alaska region and nationwide, and it contains a wealth of information.

Center for Transportation Research and Training - An excellent source of roundabout information. Furthermore, this page explains exactly what a roundabout is and is not.

Crash Reductions Following the Installation of Roundabouts in the United States - A report presented by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showing dramatic decreases in crashes at intersections where roundabouts have been installed.

Clearwater Beach Entryway Roundabout - A first-hand account of the benefits enjoyed by Clearwater, Florida, after the city installed a major roundabout in its congested downtown area.

Hurst-Rosche: Roundabouts - Hurst-Rosche is an engineering firm that peforms a number of different tasks for various communities, one of them being roundabout design. This page has some examples of their work, as well as some valuable information about roundabouts, both general and site-related.

Maryland Interchanges - An excellent gallery of overhead images of Maryland roundabouts.

Modern Roundabout or Nonconforming Traffic Circle? - A Federal Highway Administration documenting exactly what defines a roundabout.

Modern Roundabouts - A very research-oriented web site, this page contains a great deal of information on roundabouts, as well as an extensive roundabout database.

Roundabouts: An Informational Guide - This is the Federal Highway Administration's official guide to roundabouts.

Roundabouts 2000 Status Report - An informational update from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety on the benefits of roundabouts.

Roundabouts 2001 Status Report - This guide from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety explains the virtues of roundabouts as both a safety device and a traffic control device. Furthermore, it gives examples of instances in which fierce public opposition to the intersection became strong praise.

Traveling Maryland's Roundabouts - A guide to traversing a roundabout from the Maryland State Highway Administration.

 

 

Smart Growth

Compact Development for More Livable Communities - This is an informative essay explaining the benefits of properly planned compact growth, as well as some important pitfalls to avoid.

Designing Safe Streets and Neighborhoods - An excellent article relating the rising dangers for pedestrians on today's roadways to poorly planned growth and roadways.

Green Building Primer - An excellent source of information for those interested in resource-efficient development concepts.

Smart Communities Network - A website devoted to sustainable development, which promotes a fashion of economic growth that benefits the local environment and improves the quality of life.

Smart Growth America - Smart Growth America's coalition is working to support citizen-driven planning that coordinates development, transportation, revitalization of older areas and preservation of open space and the environment.

 

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Sprawl

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania: Publications - This online collection of publications by the 10,000 friends organization is a very useful source of information, with emphasis on sprawl, planning, and tax reform.

Active Community Environments Initiative Basic information on nutrition and physical activity, as well as news about special events (such as Kids Walk to School Day) and academic papers regarding land use and public health. A project of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Ahwahnee Principles - A listing of principles that aim to limit sprawl and traffic congestion as well as promote more efficient planning within our communities.

Anthony Downs - Anthony Downs is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, and he is held in very high esteem for his work and writing relating to the problems of sprawl.

"Asthma and the Environment: A Strategy to Protect Children.” (The President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children) Children are at a disproportionate risk for respiratory disease, and rapidly increasing rates of asthma in children should be reason enough to seek to limit air pollution in sprawling urban areas. This government report looks at a variety of causes of asthma in children, and seeks to prevent the disease or limit its effects through research and focused community outreach programs.

"Caught in the Crosswalk: Pedestrian Safety in California.” Though a California-based report, the data contained in “Caught in the Crosswalk” has national implications for the health risks of sprawl. The report focuses on declining pedestrian safety as an effect of sprawl.

Children at Risk: How Air Pollution from Power Plants Threatens the Health of America’s Children This report was prepared by the Clean Air Task Force and provides an interesting look at the potential impact that our nation’s power plants may have on the health of our children.

"Coastal Sprawl: The Effects of Urban Design on Aquatic Ecosystems in the United States” This report from the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League for the Pew Oceans Commission details the effects of sprawl on coastal regions, an effect which is not often considered. An interesting perspective on the devastating effects of sprawl.

"Creating a Healthy Environment: The Impact of the Built Environment on Public Health.” A comprehensive report from Sprawl Watch which discusses important health risks relating to sprawl, including air pollution and respiratory disease, physical inactivity, pedestrian injury, quality of life problems for the elderly and disabled, and water pollution and sanitation. The report also includes recommendations for citizens, planners, architects, engineers, public health officials, and all those who wish to prevent or ameliorate these kinds of health risks in America’s communities.

Development at the Urban Fringe and Beyond - An excellent report relating suburban sprawl to the massive impacts had on American farmland.

"Do Trees Strengthen Urban Communities, Reduce Domestic Violence?” A fascinating study of the effects of trees on communities which is discussed in this overview, and a convincing reason of the need to limit destruction of these resources.

The Fiscal Impacts of Different Land Uses: The Pennsylvania Experience - An in-depth report on the potential economic ramifications of growth.

"The Health Effects of Land Use and Transportation.” A brief (3 page) discussion from The Village Project of several of the health risk concepts contained in this overview, including heart disease, mental health, respiratory disease, and accidents. The Village Project is a North Carolina organization dedicated to creating walkable communities in their region.

"The Health Effects of Land Use and Transportation.” A brief (3 page) discussion from The Village Project of several of the health risk concepts contained in this overview, including heart disease, mental health, respiratory disease, and accidents. The Village Project is a North Carolina organization dedicated to creating walkable communities in their region.

Measuring the Health Effects of Sprawl - A very interesting article postulating that perhaps poor community design, through limiting opportunities for exertion, is partially to blame for the rising problem of obesity.

Myths and Facts About Oregon's Growth Boundaries - A web page devoted to debunking popular myths about Oregon's policy attempt to limit sprawl.

National Asthma Control Program A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) program website with a good overview of the asthma problem in the United States for children and adults, including specific data.

National Resources Defense Council: Sprawl - An excellent guide to the dangers of sprawl, as well as some smart growth solutions to counter them. This site also has a significant amount of general information on environmental issues.

The New Frontier - A very interesting article about the history of the phenomenon known as "suburbia".

PreserveNet: Stopping Suburban Sprawl - A links listing for anti-sprawl groups.

Sierra Club: Population and Sprawl - An article that explores the relationship between population increases and sprawl increases.

The Specter of Growth - An excellent article on the causes and impacts of uncontrolled and unplanned growth.

Sprawl and Smart Growth - This transcript of a presentation given to the League of Women Voters gives some excellent information as to how one may define and combat sprawl.

Sprawl Solutions: Creating a Sense of Place - More and more designers are looking to create new buildings that fit in with the established community, and this page contains a wealth of links relating to this topic.

Sprawl Solutions: Preserving Open Space and Farmland - A listing of several possible solutions community leaders can use as tools when attempting to preserve their remaining open space.

SprawlWatch - An information clearinghouse for all things sprawl-related.

Suburban Sprawl Adds Health Concerns This article is an Associated Press report, published in the New York Times, which details some of the findings of the findings of a major new study on the health impacts of sprawl.

Surface Transportation Policy Project The Surface Transportation Policy Project is a “nationwide network of more than 800 organizations, including planners, community development organizations, and advocacy groups, devoted to improving the nation’s transportation system.” The website includes “Mean Streets 2000,” which clearly articulates the need for enhanced pedestrian safety across America.

Urban Futures - The Urban Futures Program strives to change the climate and terms of the debate over urban policy by developing and promoting voluntary, private-sector, and market-oriented solutions to urban problems. The program's principal activities focus on urban economic development policy and land-use planning at the local, regional, state, and national levels.

Urban Sprawl Ideas That Work - This page has rough overviews for several different strategems that can be employed when seeking to limit unwanted growth.

 

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Stormwater

Center For Watershed Protection - The Center for Watershed Protection is a non-profitcorporation that provides local governments, activists, and watershed organizations around the country with the technical tools for protecting our streams, lakes and rivers.

EPA: Model Stormwater Ordinances - A listing of model ordinances that help ensure that your community does not have to bear the added expense of stormwater increases.

EPA: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System - The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States.

EPA: NPDES Fact Sheet - Important information on stormwater runoff as it relates to pollution, as well as some ideas on how to counter this effect.

Erosion Control - The official site for Erosion Control magazine, this page contains a wealth of useful information pertaining to the problems caused by uncontrolled erosion.

Low Impact Development Center - The Low Impact Development Center develops and provides information to individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting the environment and our water resources through proper site design techniques that replicate pre-existing hydrologic site conditions.

NPDES II Rule Changes - An article detailing the significance of Phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System as it relates to local municipalities.

NPDES Phase II: The Next Phase - An overview of NPDES Phase II, as well as a group of suggestions for succesful stormwater management.

NPDES Phase II Stormwater Program - An excellent factsheet on NPDES Phase II for smaller municipalities.

Pennsylvania Code: NPDES - An online version of the section of the Pennsylvania Code that pertains to NPDES.

Rain Gardens - A web site devoted to a unique stormwater protection approach that involves allowing rainwater to collect within a garden area.

Stormwater - "The Journal for Surface Water Quality Professionals," this page has a wealth of stormwater-related information, and is worth checking out.

Stormwater: Best Management Practices - An article on the relationship between BMPs and NPDES II regulations.

Stormwater Links - An excellent links archive pertaining to stormwater

Stormwater Manager's Resource Center - The SMRC web site provides Phase II communities with the tools and techniques necessary to protect their watersheds and to enhance and restore their local water resources.

Stormwater Resources - An archive of very relevant stormwater links, including several links for stormwater control products.

 

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Sustainable Development

Smart Growth Online - Provided by the Smart Growth Network, this page has information on innovative development concepts as well as related current events.

 

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Traditional Neighborhood Development

National Association of Home Builders: Tradtional Neighborhood Development - The facts on TND.

The Thirteen Points of Traditional Neighborhood Development - Thirteen key ideas that define the TND philosophy.

Traditional Neighborhood Design - A collection of articles and diagrams regarding TND.

Why TND Traffic Systems Work - Taken from the Florida state website, this page provides detailed information on how TND traffic systems work.

 

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Transfer of Development Rights

Transfer of Development Rights - An excellent overview of this process coupled with an explanation of the basic TDR mechanisms.

 

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Transportation

Americans Against Traffic Calming - (Counterpoint) An organization claiming that the use of traffic calming devices is discriminatory and ultimately leads to greater community problems.

Creating the Interstate System - An excellent report on the history of the Interstate Highway System.

Fatal Flaws With Road Concurrency - Using Florida's policies as an example, this Anthony Downs report explains why this seemingly sensible principle is a dangerously flawed method of traffic control.

Federal Highway Administration Policy Memorandums - An extensive listing of the FHWA policy memorandums between 1992 and 2004.

Fighting Traffic Congestion With Information Technology - An interesting article reflecting the lack of a political desire to solve congestion, in spite of the fact that the technology exists to do so.

Infrastructure, Local Development, and Housing Programs - An in-depth article about the relationships between infrastructure growth and the decline of wetlands.

Links To State Departments of Transportation - A listing of links to state DOTs for all 50 states, along with some other transportation links.

National Roads Authority - An Irish independent body dedicated to promoting safe and intelligent road design, and it has a large amount of transportation-related information as well.

NEPA: Transportation Issues - An open discussion forum with regard to transportation and the environment.

Road Kill - An in-depth discussion on the hidden harmful effects of a car-dependent society.

Sprawl as a Primary Cause of Congestion - An article evaluating recent studies showing that sprawl is largely to blame for the increase in traffic congestion.

Surface Transportation Policy Project - STPP is a national coalition devoted to intelligent transportation solutions that most effectively deal with congestion, while at the same time looking to positively benefit local communities.

Traffic Calming Techniques - A listing of all of the traffic calming techniques currently used in the United Kingdom.

Transportation Links - A very large collection of transportation links.

US Interstate Highway System: 40 Year Report - An essay speculating that the Interstate Highay System is one of the best investments ever made by the United States Government.

Why Are the Roads So Congested? - An analysis of the Texas Transportation Institute's data on metropolitan congestion.

 

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Wastewater

EPA: Wastewater - The homepage of the Office of Wastewater Management, this page has a great deal of information, and is an excellent resource.

 

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Wetlands

1996 National List of Vascular Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands - This 1996 list of wetland-friendly plants provides potentially valuable information for those looking to preserve wetlands in their area.

Army Corps of Engineers: Final Notice of Issuance and Modification of Nationwide Permits - This document reviews the permits granted and changed by the Army Corps of Engineers circa 2000.

Army Corps of Engineers: Wetlands Delineation Manual - This 1987 manual is the current federal delineation manual used in the Clean Water Act Section 404 regulatory program for the identification and delineation of wetlands.

Ducks Unlimited - Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl.

EPA: America's Wetlands - An excellent source for both scientific and legal information relating to wetlands.

EPA: Corps of Engineers Proposal to Reissue and Modify Nationwide Permits - The Corps of Engineers published the proposal to reissue and modify Nationwide Permits (NWP) in the Federal Register on August 9, 2001. This page has a great deal of information regarding this proposal.

The Impact of Federal Programs on Wetlands - A report to Congress explaining the effects of government actions on wetlands, including a large number of specific examples.

"Migratory Bird Rule" - A discussion of whether or not the use by migratory birds of navigable waters warrants federal regulation.

National Wetlands - This publication contains a significant amount of information. However, it is a subscription service, and users must pay a fee to access the information.

National Wetlands Conservation Alliance - The National Wetlands Conservation Alliance was an informal partnership of private organizations and government agencies that worked to facilitate voluntary landowner wetlands restoration, enhancement and conservation.

National Wetlands Inventory - Provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this page has a wealth of wetlands-related data and maps.

National Wetlands Research Center - The National Wetlands Research Center is a source and clearinghouse of science information about wetlands in the United States and the world for fellow agencies, private entities, academia, and the public at large.

Pennsylvania DEP: Waterways, Wetlands, and Erosion Control - This page contains information about wetlands, as well as several more specific factsheets.

Pennsylvania State Programmatic General Permit - Enacted over a five-year period, the PASPGP gives a general permit for eliminating duplicative federal and state review for many permit applications.

Regulatory Takings After Lucas - An article reflecting the legal complexities of the takings clause of the fifth amendment.

Regulatory Takings and Proposals for Change - The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution prohibits the taking of private land for public use without just compensation. This article explains how the situation can become far more complex when government regulations constitute a "taking".

Sierra Club: Wetlands - The Sierra Club Guide to Wetlands.

Society of Wetland Scientists - The homepage for the Society of Wetland Scientists.

Status and Trends of Wetlands - This report provides the most recent and comprehensive estimates of the current status and trends of wetlands in the conterminous 48 United States on public and private lands

Wetlands Defined - An excellent page that explains exactly what wetlands are, the dangers that face them, and how to protect them.

Wetland Delineator Certification Program - The intent of the WDCP is to improve the quality and consistency of wetland delineations submitted to the Army Corps of Engineers and to streamline the regulatory process by developing procedures for expediting review and consideration of delineations submitted by certified delineators.

Wetland Links - A large archive of wetland-related links.

"Wetland Losses in the United States: Scope, Causes, Impacts, and Future Prospects" - An overview of the importance of wetlands, including the potentially highly adverse consequences for squandering these valuable resources.

Wetlands Regulation Center - The Wetlands Regulation Center is presented by Environmental Technical Services Co. as a service to all persons interested in the laws, policies and regulations concerning activities regulated under Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act in waters of the United States, including wetlands.

 

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Zoning

History of Zoning - An interesting article on the history of using zoning to control land use.

Local Land Use Regulation and the Chain of Exclusion - An article explaining how zoning can lead to exclusionary practices in land use.