York, Lancaster Awarded ‘Smart Growth’ Grants
Shaping the development of their communities is the goal of two local associations.
REALTORS® Association of York and Adams Counties (RAYAC) and Lancaster County Association of REALTORS® have received National Association of REALTORS® Smart Growth grants in the last year.
The grants help promote Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND), also called Neotraditional Development or the New Urbanism to local planning and zoning officials.
RAYAC’s first $3,000 grant allowed the association to host a workshop which outlined TND design elements. Municipal officials, engineers, developers and REALTORS® attended. RAYAC also sponsored a tour to the Kentlands, an award-winning neo-traditional community in Gathersburg, MD.
Hugh Morris, NAR’s community outreach representative, notes that RAYAC’s second $3,000 grant will build on the success of the first program “RAYAC is evolving with the second grant,” he adds.
RAYAC and several organizations are forming a coalition to address the smart growth needs. The group will hire a consultant to develop a model TND ordinance which local governments can use.
LCAR used its grant to sponsor a free seminar, offered to municipal representatives, which highlighted issues like higher density, low-income housing and other smart growth concepts.
Frank Christoffel, IV, LCAR government affairs director, says, “We’re trying to increase the density in the growth areas, preserve farm areas and leave a buffer area between the two. With a higher density, homeowners can purchase more house for their money.”
Local associations are encouraged to apply for NAR’s Smart Growth grants, which can be a maximum of $3,000 and are awarded twice annually.
Morris says, “Smart Growth grants are there for local boards. The money can prime the pumps to get local boards to take action, which they might not have otherwise taken. Who better to help shape their communities than REALTORS®?”
NAR awarded $70,000 in grants last year. During the spring 2006 awards, $47,000 was given to locals.
Robert Fleck, a past PAR president, currently serves as vice chair of NAR’s Smart Growth Advisory Group. “NAR has allocated so much money for grants. This last time, we had 39 applications and we funded 30 programs. I’d like to see more money come into Pennsylvania,” Fleck adds.
Information on NAR’s Smart Growth grants and the application process can be found at www.realtor.org/smartgrowth.