Abstract:
This research paper proposes land use and infrastructure funding and planning policies
for the State of Indiana in order to grow smarter and reduce sprawl based on different
growth management and Smart Growth policies used in other states. As Indiana grows
by one million people by 2050, long term planning is necessary in order to determine the
what, where, when, and how of new development. By basing an Indiana approach off of
the State of Maryland’s Smart Growth laws, policies can be enacted in order to
incentivize developers to build and expand in places ready for expansion while
preserving farmland and other sensitive areas through the establishment of easements
that offer property tax caps. While Maryland’s program has not lived up to its initial
promises, the proposal contained in this paper heavily modifies the policies for funding
through the requirement of different planning elements. By enacting the proposed
policies, Indiana can increase its fiscal and environmental sustainability.
