I think the predominant pattern of urban and suburban growth in the U.S., with its land-intensive and auto-dominated sprawl, is wasting natural resources and infrastructure. In addition it creates environments that are unfriendly to alternative forms of transportation such as walking or cycling. Not to mention the social isolation and economic homogeneity of the traditional suburb. I don't want anyone to deny people the right to live as they choose, but I believe that communities as a whole need to consider alternative ways of developing.
I worked for 4+ years as a policy analyst and economist for ECONorthwest, an economic consulting firm with offices in Portland, Seattle, and Eugene.
I'm now a policy analyst with Housing New Zealand Corporation (the NZ equivalent of U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development) in Wellington, New Zealand. Not as directly planning-related, but fascinating nonetheless. Affordable housing is a key component of sustainable development.
Links to Related Sites (apologies for broken links, as these links go back to my Harvard days!)
American Planning Association
City Farmer
Cool Maps--Do Your Own!
Surf Yer Watershed!
American Farmland Trust
Trust for Public Land
Rails to Trails
