Land Policy Institute - Ask the Expert Forums

1. All land divisions should incorporate "conservation design". This should be part of the Land Division Act. The natural environment of our state needs to be overseen on a regional level since what I do in my "neck of the woods" can effect your place 60 miles down the road.
Many planning commissions only deal with development that falls under "special or conditional use" but most development sprawl happens under "permitted use",  typically low density residential. For example: Parcels can be divided in such a way, that it creates parcels in wetlands. Even with state and/or a local wetland ordinance in place, these parcels must be mitigated to allow some development to avoid a "regulated takings" issue. 
New zoning is sometimes created as a "knee jerk" reaction to a particular community situation. Pro-active zoning that promotes better land use goes slow, and doesn't attract citizen interest until it becomes controvertial (my property, my rights).
The State could use their present data that shows the dollar value and photos of better managed growth through the regional planning groups like Tri-county and Region2  programs. Also, all people elected to public office, appointed to planning commissions, zoning boards, or judges should be required to have some form of a MSUE type Citizen Planner program.
2. Create tax incentives for property owners to encourage protection of natrural features, using local assessing. Revamp PA116 to credit property's starting at 15 acres instead of 40 acres. When rural land is divided for development, use "transfer fees", and/or create a "cost of community service" fee to support local township efforts that protect natural features, productive agriculture, passive recreation, etc.. Earmark beverage bottle (water, wine) deposits to fund Purchase of Development Rights programs.
3. Partner with local MSU Extensions in presenting condensed "land use issues" programs (i.e. using natural features maps, why protect certain areas FAQs, health value of local food, outdoor recreation, tourism, community vision, etc.) that fit into a township and/or county board meeting schedule.
Note: The State has been part of many excellent training programs, unfortunately the same audience keeps showing up.
4. The State could work with financial institutions and insurance corporations to expand the present real estate forms that indicate a structure's lead, mold, and floodplain awareness to also include other environmental effects as: health of septic system & well, and indicating the property's natural features. 
The present bad economy offers an opportunity to protect rural areas from sprawl development, use foreclosed homes as affordable housing, invest in public transportation and improve "quality of life" in our cities. Back in the early 1990's the State created a "Youth Corp" program that provided summer jobs for teens and young adults who learned to improve their communities and environment. This type of idea could be used again. Continuing community outreach, finding common ground, and trying a variety of efforts can improve the State we live in.

Dr. Adelaja gave a great talk at this year's Michigan Association of Planning Conference in Mt. Pleasant entitled Effectively Linking Land Use Planners to Strategic Economic Development in the New Economy.  In it, he stated "sprawl is essentially dead in Michigan."  I have to disagree with this statement.  Though strides have been made recently toward more regional planning and zoning, as long as townships are still planning and zoning unincorporated areas, and not counties or some other regional entity, sprawl will persist.  Sprawl is, unfortunately, part of our development culture in this State.  The downturn in the economy has slowed sprawl, but development will continue to find the easy route to success:  sprawl.  Does the Land Policy Institute track development across the State?  It would be interesting to quantify sprawl versus smart growth across the State - though the results will continue to be disapointing.