Take this Resolution to Your Precinct Caucus on January 3rd

Here’s a quick, efficient, and far-reaching method to get land use and sustainable development discussed in the political process:

If you plan to attend the caucuses for the presidential primaries, take this resolution to your party precinct caucus on January 3rd at 6:30.

If the resolution passes or you have an interesting account of what happened, contact our office at 515-288-5364 or email [log in to unmask] This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to share your news with us.

Resolutions are issue-specific statements that are considered at the precinct-level, the county convention, the district convention, and finally the state conventions of the Democratic and Republican parties. If the resolutions pass at all levels, language gets inserted into the party platform. This is a useful way to get citizens discussing important issues, and to show grassroots consensus about what Iowans want their political leaders to stand for.

Resolution: Support Sustainable Development and Responsible Land Use

WHEREAS, sprawling development and poor land use decisions have resulted in the rapid loss of valuable farmland, destruction of natural areas, and auto-dependent communities that cost us more to build and maintain;

WHEREAS, with the rising costs of gasoline, depleting fossil fuels, increasing greenhouse gas emissions generated from driving, and limited transportation funding, we know that the need for smarter planning, development, and infrastructure investment has never been more apparent--or more critical;

WHEREAS, Iowa’s existing urban areas and small towns contain an abundance of vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and brownfields, and redevelopment of these areas can build a healthy tax base, create jobs, and enhance community character;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Iowa legislature is encouraged to act quickly and decisively to adopt measures designed to encourage development and redevelopment inside our cities and towns, to limit taxpayer subsidies for new growth on farmland and natural areas, and to encourage transportation choices and principles of sustainable development.