North Carolina is renowned for its natural beauty, but rapid development over the past several decades has threatened some of its most treasured open spaces. Recognizing the importance of preserving its natural places for future generations, North Carolina’s General Assembly established the Million Acre Initiative to protect one million acres of land between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2009. Unfulfilled Promise highlights the state’s progress under the initiative, and documents how North Carolina fell short of its goal. (January 2010)

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Global warming and the loss of open space are two of the largest environmental challenges facing Maryland. The creation of compact neighborhoods near transit stations - known as "transit-oriented development" - can contribute to solving both problems. Building Maryland's Future documents the benefits for Maryland's environment of using transit-oriented development to accommodate the state's growing population. (January 2010)

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Maryland established itself as a leader in the promotion of “smart growth” following the adoption of several cutting-edge policies in the late 1990s. But weaknesses in those laws, and a lack of aggressive enforcement, have eroded their effectiveness. Not So Smart documents land consumption trends in Maryland, showing that commercial and residential sprawl continue to consume vast amounts of land in the state, threatening the state’s few remaining open spaces and its quality of life. The report recommends measures to put teeth into the state’s land-use policies. (March 2009)

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America’s natural places represent an important part of our national heritage, but millions of acres of land have been lost in recent years to sprawling development. State programs to buy up or otherwise protect open space are a critical bulwark against the loss of important natural areas, but many such programs are underfunded. Preserving America’s Natural Heritage profiles programs in 15 states that purchase or protect open space and presents lessons states can use in designing effective programs. (September 2008)

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Pollution from a variety of sources, coupled with the rampant destruction of coastal wetlands, has degraded water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, harming wildlife and threatening Marylanders’ enjoyment of the bay. To protect water quality in the bay, Maryland adopted the Critical Area Act in 1984. Unfortunately, with weak enforcement mechanisms, broad loopholes, and 64 separate jurisdictions implementing their own standards, the Critical Area Act has failed to stop many irresponsible developments that continue to threaten the health of the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries and Maryland’s Atlantic coastal bays. Addressing the shortcomings illustrated in this report could bolster Maryland’s ability to encourage development that protects the state’s natural resources. (February 2008)

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The failure to fund Maryland’s successful land conservation programs over the last few years has scaled back preservation efforts and threatened the state's unspoiled farms and forests and the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Our Natural Heritage at Risk identifies seven locations around Maryland that are threatened by development, including Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Annapolis Neck, and Patuxent River Rural Legacy Area. (Fall 2006)

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For decades, planning and growth around Atlanta has encouraged and abetted sprawl and discouraged land conservation. Conventional wisdom held that land preservation, while offering important social benefits, drained local government finances and did not contribute to economic growth. However, Georgia’s natural heritage is much more than scenery—it is the foundation of a strong economy, providing value for the state and its people in many ways. Protecting our Natural Heritage presents a series of case studies showing that additional tools for land preservation will provide tangible economic returns for communities across the state. (June 2006)

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In the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that irresponsible land use must be controlled in order to restore and protect Michigan waterways and the Great Lakes. Waterways at Risk identifies areas of the state vulnerable to development-caused water quality problems, and suggests policy ideas to protect and restore water resources with low-impact development and smart-growth techniques. (October 2005)

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Pennsylvania created the Growing Greener program to provide funding to protect farms, forests and open space from sprawling development. Stronger Economies, Stronger Communities: The Benefits of Growing Greener Funding for Pennsylvania illustrates the environmental and economic benefits of renewing the state’s cornerstone conservation programs by highlighting past successes in protecting Pennsylvania’s environmental resources and historic places. Increased funding for Growing Greener would bring further benefits to areas across the state. (May 2005)

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Transit-oriented development—mixed residential and commercial districts that allow residents to walk, drive or ride transit—can improve quality of life in urban areas and encourage more compact development. Transit-Oriented Development: Strategies to Promote Vibrant Communities offers guidelines for successful transit-oriented development projects and identifies a number of locations in Maryland where such development could occur. (January 2005)

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A growing number of Maryland’s citizens have come to recognize the true costs of the poorly planned, widely-dispersed development that is characteristic of sprawl—sprawl that has required the expenditure of billions of taxpayer dollars for new infrastructure, while degrading air quality, increasing traffic congestion, consuming farmland, and contributing to a declining quality of life for the state’s residents. The MaryPIRG Foundation engaged ten individuals with a long-standing interest in and knowledge of land-use issues in a broad discussion of public policy concerns related to sprawl. (July 2004)

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In the past, conventional wisdom held that open space purchases, while offering important social benefits, drained local government finances and did not contribute to economic growth. However preserving North Carolina’s natural heritage can strengthen the foundation for economic growth, enhance quality of life, and protect the health of the environment. The Value of Open Space reviews the many ways open space creates value for the community. (June 2004)

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Despite spending millions of dollars to build 7,000 lane mile to its road network from 1985 to 2000, Maryland’s congestion problem continues to get worse. A major reason is generated traffic—the new, longer, or diverted trips that develop once highway capacity in an area is increased. Generated traffic reduces or negates the congestion-fighting benefits of highway expansion. Evidence from university studies of congestion patterns, government statistics on transportation and academic research shows that highway expansion is not an effective way to fight congestion. Maryland should shift its transportation strategy away from costly highway expansion projects and toward alternatives that can provide more transportation choices to residents. (April 2002)

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Highway construction has been a key factor creating sprawl in Maryland. Data shows that highways intended to serve the needs of existing communities and alleviate traffic have instead allowed migration outward from the cities. They have been a cause of sprawl rather than a solution to congestion. Paving the Way presents an analysis of all developed residential and commercial properties in central Maryland and the Eastern Shore in relation to all major highways, finding that highways act as magnets for development. (November 2000)

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