QN offers a timely, concise overview of a single planning topic as well as additional information and resources available through the Planning Advisory Service.

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The Farmland Protection Toolbox

Food production, and therefore long-term food security, depends on the availability of agricultural land. Working lands support local economies through sales of farm goods, job creation, support services and businesses, and by creating secondary markets such as food processing and distribution. This PAS QuickNotes presents an overview of the tools most commonly used locally to reduce farm and ranch land conversion and to permanently protect agricultural land.

Development Impact Fees

Impact fees are often erroneously accused of being anti-growth. In fact, impact fees facilitate the conversion of raw land into buildable lots, accelerate development approvals and reduce citizen opposition to new development. An impact fee is essentially a community "buy-in" fee for new residents and businesses. The main difference between an impact fee and other facility financing measures is that the services are paid for in one amount upfront rather than incrementally over an extended period of time. This PAS QuickNotes presents a basic overview of development impact fees in light of increasing national opposition to higher taxes and government spending.

Integrating Health into the Comprehensive Plan

Land-use policies and development directly affect many aspects of public health. The quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink, the safety of the streets we use to get around, and even our daily levels of physical activity and dietary choices all depend, to some extent, on land-use and transportation decisions made by local governments. Yet, until recently, relatively few comprehensive plans explicitly addressed the potential effects of land use on health. This PAS QuickNotes highlights some opportunities each community has to address the connections between community design and public health through goals and policies in its comprehensive plan.