Land Use Planning
Chicago’s greater metropolitan region supports the economic, social, and recreational needs of 9.3 million people. Between now and 2030 projections suggest an additional two million people and jobs in this area. This additional population and economic growth will further stress the area’s natural and ecological resources, especially the quality and quantity of its land, water, air, plant and animal resources. New plans and policies, novel institutional arrangements and innovative regulatory and market-based management strategies are needed to accommodate this growth while protecting – and possibly even enhancing – the region's ecological services and biodiversity.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) will develop and promote the use of decision support systems, work with local officials, and assist regional planners in formulating new development and resource management strategies at the appropriate scales needed to maximize their cost-effectiveness consistent with their multiple objectives. IISG's models and outreach to local officials charged with managing land use and development will ensure more sustainable growth at the community scale, while its planning assistance to regional agencies will sustainably manage surface and groundwater resources (and their associated ecosystems) at the appropriate watershed and aquifer scales. This engagement will be supplemented by the latest research and through expansion of the Wingspread Tri-State Accord, which facilitates environmental and economic planning across state lines.
News
- Growing pains: new publication promotes re-thinking community development
- New Study on Green Infrastructure to Assess Stormwater Management
- Get Smart Growth: New Publication Promotes Resource Protection in Indiana
- The HELM: To Build or Not to Build: New Online Resource Aids Local Planners
- The HELM: Northwest Indiana Planning Smart Growth
- Chicago Flood Potential is Higher than Expected
Initiatives
Planning with POWER
The project is designed to empower communities to prevent and solve natural resource problems resulting from changing land use in growing watersheds and to empower local officials to incorporate watershed protection measures into comprehensive land use plans.
Local Decision Maker
This web-based GIS decision system is designed to improve comprehensive land use planning so that economic, ecological, social, and cultural resources are integrated with future development in a sustainable way.
Wingspread Accord
This historic agreement brings together planning agencies around Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and (recent addition) Michigan to work together across state lines to consider major environmental and economic issues.
Research Projects
Development of Virtual Coastal Cities for Indiana
Jie Shan, Purdue University
Quantifying the Impact of Land Cover Change and of Climate Change on Floods in Northeastern Illinois
Momcilo Markus, University of Illinois
More Land Use Planning research
Planning with POWER Products
Protecting Our Water and Environmental Resources
Nonpoint Source Pollution: A Threat to Our Waters
Impacts of Development on Waterways
Strategies to Minimize Polluted Runoff
How to Get Started: Protecting Your Community from Polluted Runoff
The Relationship Between Land Use Decisions and the Impacts on Our Water and Natural Resources
Brownfields: A Rural Community Problem
Stormwater Runoff
Stormwater and Non-Point Source Pollution
Open Space Planning
Web Links
Purdue Land Use Team
NEMO (Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials)
Center for Watershed Protection
Purdue Extension
Chicago Wilderness (Green Infrastructure)
Center for Neighborhood Technology (Green Calculator)
