After spending more than two decades in local government before my eight years as Governor of Maryland, I came to realize how the state was contributing to the spread of sprawl by funding infrastructure improvements, school construction, and transportation investments, among many other things. When we began to utilize the entire state budget as a tool for smarter growth, we found ourselves in uncharted territory. Leading the way is certainly an adventure, but it also comes with the unenviable task of not having someone who has gone before to help navigate the journey.
After spending more than two decades in local government before my eight years as Governor of Maryland, I came to realize how the state was contributing to the spread of sprawl by funding infrastructure improvements, school construction, and transportation investments, among many other things. When we began to utilize the entire state budget as a tool for smarter growth, we found ourselves in uncharted territory. Leading the way is certainly an adventure, but it also comes with the unenviable task of not having someone who has gone before to help navigate the journey.
After leaving government at the end of my second term, I joined with former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman in 2005 to start the Governors' Institute on Community Design. The Institute, made possible by funding from the US EPA and the National Endowment for the Arts, exists to help equip governors with the training, knowledge and technical advice they need to realize a fruitful vision of growth for their state.
Generally, after the Governor and his or her staff set an agenda, the Institute will convene a workshop and bring in nationally renowned experts and practitioners in design, planning, transportation, housing, schools, land-use, and the environment to help the Governor and his or her administration get from Point A to their desired Point B.A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to travel to Dover, Delaware to spend two days with Governor Ruth Ann Minner and her staff for the fourth state Institute. Since 2001, Governor Minner has been forging a path of her own for the First State through Livable Delaware, an agenda "designed to slow sprawl, guide growth to appropriate areas, preserve open space and promote high-quality redevelopment." She has made Livable Delaware a success over the last six years. We were pleased to be able to sit down with her staff and cabinet to provide advice on developing Livable Delaware into an even stronger agenda that will continue long after she leaves office.
The feedback we received from Governor Minner's administration following the workshop-as well as in a press release from her office-let us know that our time and effort will help them reach their goals: "After seven years of hard work, this workshop was a great reminder that we have very powerful laws and tools already at hand, but our guests also made a series of valuable and actionable recommendations to improve our efforts now and beyond this administration."
During the workshop, Ed McMahon of the Urban Land Institute-one of the Institute panelists for the event-asked the kind of question that Governors from Maine to California are asking themselves in regard to their own states: "Do you want the character of Delaware to shape new development, or do you want new development to shape the character of Delaware?"
As Governors across the country seek the answer to this question, more of them are embracing an active, aggressive state role in addressing growth. Governors can tackle so many important issues today-traffic, global warming, economic competitiveness, health, housing affordability, mobility-by setting a state framework for smarter growth.
Notwithstanding that most of my elected career was spent at the local level, I hope this trend continues.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
