Land Use & Sustainable Community Development Planning

The Resource Dimensions team of economists, planners, and social and environmental scientists have worked with states, counties and numerous communities and resource agencies throughout the country to develop sustainable community-based economic development strategies. We are familiar with the breadth of programs and tools that can be applied in conjunction with infrastructure investments and public policy changes to improve a region’s environment, social equity, and economic competitiveness—in a nutshell its sustainability. Our team has decades of experience in working alongside public, private and non-profit entities to encourage participation in programs, projects and investments to revitalize and sustain communities for the long-term.

Resource Dimensions has produced a variety of strategic plans, evaluation tools and indicators, and analyses for a range of government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private corporations working to restore balance across the economic, environmental and social spectrum of their communities.

A few of our recent projects…

Sustainable Pierce County Project
In collaboration with Pierce County, Friends of Pierce County, and communities countywide, Resource Dimensions has led development and strategic planning stages, development and funding initiatives for the multi-phased project since late 2004.

The SPC project is a first for Washington state in that the planning, policy development and resource tool-kit for use by communities will result from a multi-year countywide collaborative. The project will take a comprehensive approach and actively engage all with a stake in the future of Pierce County and its diverse communities. Various steps will include in-depth policy analysis, the use of topic-based work groups, asset and issue based mapping, a cross-sectional survey, development of a decision-support tool, a sustainability matrix and community workbook. The objective of the integrated decision-support system and coordinating workbook is to provide communities with an interactive resource set to assist them in evaluating and making land use, social policy and economic development decisions that will help move Pierce County’s communities move together toward sustainability by encouraging the creation of equitable, environmentally and economically healthy places for people –for today and for the future. October 2004 through June 2008.

Community Sustainability and Economic Development
For over 200 communities in the Pacific Northwest, and another 225 nationwide, Dr. Chuck Harris examined how differences between rural and urban populations influence monetary cost-benefit analysis relative to environmental policies and policy changes, community decision-making for sustainable economies, and regional economic development. These analyses have been instrumental to development of planning policies for economic sustainability throughout the region.

New York State Canal System Economic Development Plan
By special appointment, Dr. Gustanski participated on Governor Pataki’s advisory panel established to create a comprehensive $50 million plan to transform the New York State Canal System into a major economic development and recreational asset for Upstate New York. Evaluated strategy and investments needed to revitalize the Canal and expand economic development opportunities between Albany and Buffalo, and provide for completion of the 348-mile canal-way bike/pedestrian trail linking Lake Erie to the Hudson River.

Sustainable Community Planning
Resource Dimensions has assisted several communities, counties and regionally-based agencies in the US, Scotland, and Canada in developing various integrated strategic sustainable community planning processes, policies, and decision support tools designed to aid in implementing a diverse spectrum of local and regional projects and programs. Through such efforts, we have developed GIS-based asset and issue mapping tools, computer based decision support tools and sustainability matrices, and a range of aids to facilitate diverse stakeholder involvement throughout the collaborative process.

Land Consumption Analysis
The Resource Dimensions partnership has conducted a variety of land consumption analyses relative to suburban, rural, and ex-urban growth issues in order to answer an array of questions, such as: "How can current needs and objectives be met while bestowing adequate environmental and natural resources to future generations?" and "What social, economic, and behavioral adaptations are required?" Several analyses have focused on evaluation of regulatory and incentive planning tools for redevelopment and conservation. These analyses have been used to demonstrate potential impacts dictated by current zoning (e.g., service, environmental, traffic, and fiscal requirements, etc.) compared against alternatives that may provide a more favorable future.

Community Involvement in Regional Economic Analysis
Scenic Byways Subcommittee Minnesota River Basin. Analysis of economic benefits and impacts on communities, and agricultural and natural resources along the 100- mile corridor proposed for conservation designation. Conducted community hearings and performed alternative futures analysis on attitudes towards various development alternatives along corridor. Work was performed to support integrated strategy for sustainable growth.

Conservation Development Planning & Assessment
Resource Dimensions’ team members have worked with agencies and organizations in more than a dozen states to assess and plan conservation developments. The goal of conservation (or cluster) development is to protect land resources while allowing for the maximum number of residences under current municipal zoning and subdivision regulations. We have also assisted communities in developing conservation subdivision regulations to enable new residential growth within "clusters" while preserving dedicated non-development areas on lands with open space, agricultural, natural, historical and recreational values.