While most US governors are fixated on

While most US governors are fixated on fixing fiscal woes, a select few, like New Jersey’s James McGreevey (see March 2003 New Urban News), have managed to focus on smart growth: Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-Michigan). This freshman governor announced the formation of a bipartisan Land Use Leadership Council. Citing sprawl as a threat to the state’s agriculture, forestry, tourism and mining industries and water quality, she is joining with other state leaders to establish a bipartisan commision “to ensure that Michigan grows in a way that preserves the character of the state we call home.” Land use consumption in Michigan has been outpacing population growth eight times over. Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). While the governor didn’t take on sprawl in his recent State of the State address, he has done so in action. Having campaigned on several smart growth issues — e.g., multi-family housing zoning and fees for greenfield developers to support the rebuilding of cities — Romney appointed Doug Foy, former president of the Conservation Law Foundation, as the newly created chief of Commonwealth Development. The position acts as a liaison between the governor and the departments of housing, transportation and environmental affairs. Gov. Ruth Minner (D-Delaware). This Delaware Democrat proposed the “Land Use Planning Act” that would create a pre-application planning step for projects of a certain size. Building on her administration’s “Livable Delaware Plan,” it would “bring together the developer, local governments and state agencies before a project is submitted for approval … [Resulting] in projects that are more suitable for the affected community.” About two-thirds of the state’s municipalities and all three counties are in the process of reconsidering or adopting a growth plan.