Faculty and Staff - Todd Gabe - REP 474 Syllabus
Spring 2006
Dr. Todd M. Gabe Lectures: T,Th 11:00-12:15
Department of Resource Economics and Policy
Winslow Hall 201
Course Introduction:
This is an upper-division, undergraduate course that will focus on (1) how land use decisions are made in the absence of planning and (2) how land use planning can be used to achieve desired land use outcomes. What are the causes, benefits and costs of sprawl? How can we protect our natural resources from the pressures associated with development? What are urban growth boundaries and are they effective? What are the key components of a land use plan? By the end of the semester, you should be able to answer these questions and others about land use planning.
My primary goal for this course is to expose you to the many complexities of land use decision making and land use planning. This will be accomplished by examining and discussing concepts related to land economics, land markets and market failure, and various growth management approaches and strategies. It is also my goal, whenever possible, to provide you with arguments that support both sides of an issue. For example, we will discuss the pros and cons of suburban sprawl, one of the most important and controversial land use issues facing communities today.
Instructor Information:
Office location: 200 Winslow Hall
Office phone: 581-3307
E-mail: todd.gabe@umit.maine.edu (Todd Gabe on First Class)
Mailbox: 205 Winslow Hall
Office hours: Wednesday 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Thursday 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and by appointment
Secretary: Karen Casey
Karen’s office: 206 Winslow Hall
Karen’s phone: 581-3154
Course Information:
Textbooks and reference materials:
Porter, Douglas. Managing Growth in America’s Communities. Island Press, 1997.
Other reading assignments, listed in course outline, on closed reserve in the library.
Other Useful References:
- The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Economist, etc.
- Calculator: You may need to use a calculator on exams.
- Perhaps a ruler or a straight edge for drawing graphs
Grading and Course Evaluation:
Grading: Your final grade will be determined as follows:
Midterm exam (Thursday, February 16): 25%
Midterm exam (Thursday, April 6): 25%
Final exam (Thursday, May 11, 10:30 – 12:30): 25%
Assignments and presentation 25%
Final grades will be assigned as follows: A (93 to 100 percent); A- (90-93); B+ (87-90);
B (82-87); B- (80-82); C+ (77-80); C (72-77); C- (70-72); D+ (67-70); D (62-67); D- (60-62); F (less than 60).
Presentation: Each student will make a 10 to 12 minute individual or two-person group presentation on a topic related to land use planning.
Some potential topics include: policy alternatives for farmland protection, wetland mitigation banks, effects of urban growth boundaries on housing values, land preservation in Maine, etc. The Internet is a good resource for identifying topics and, in some cases, collecting data; however, presentations should be based on journal articles, books and other academic material. A review of the academic literature is a good first step in identifying a topic. That way, you will know if there are a sufficient number of articles available on your topic.
Presentations will be scheduled during the last few classes of the semester. In order to allow for smooth transitions between groups, you will be required to submit power point slides and/or other materials by 9:00 am on the morning you are scheduled to present.
Each person (group) will also submit a two to three page report that summarizes the information used in the presentation, and a reference list. In most cases, a well-researched presentation will bring together information from multiple (at least four) academic sources.
Exams: The midterms and final exam will test your knowledge of the topics covered in class as well as the reading assignments. Before each exam, I will give you some idea about which topics and assignments are most "important" for you to know in order to do well on the test. The exams will consist of short answer and essay questions and perhaps a problem that requires some basic mathematical calculations. I will let you know prior to the exam if you will need a calculator. In most cases, makeup exams will not be offered. Written documentation pertaining to an illness or family emergency will be required before a makeup exam is administered.
Assignments: During the semester you will be asked to complete a few in-class, small-group assignments. You need to be present in class to receive credit for these exercises. There will be several homework problems and/or short essays that will give you practice using and thinking about the concepts covered in class. In most cases, you will have one week or more to complete the homework assignments. Late assignments will not be accepted without a written excuse stapled to the homework.
Academic misconduct: Every student in the class is expected to be familiar with the University’s Student Conduct Code (http://www.umaine.edu/handbook/). Instances of plagiarism and cheating will result in repeating of the assignment and/or reduction in grade. Other violations of the code will result in the instructor seeking advice from the appropriate office on campus on how to deal with the student’s behavior. If you have questions about this policy or want examples on what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior, please speak with the instructor.
Other Information: If you have any questions or concerns about this course, please contact the instructor as soon as possible. The College Success Program offers a variety of academic support programs to help non-traditional students, low income students and students with disabilities achieve their educational goals. Please contact the College Success Program at 581-2319 if you think you could benefit from these services.
If you wish to request an accommodation for a disability, please contact the instructor or Ann Smith, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (581-2319), as early as possible in the semester.
Tentative Course Outline: Please be advised that changes to this outline will be announced if necessary during class. Readings indicated with an asterisk (*) are available on closed reserve in the library. Some of these readings, but not all, are also available on electronic reserve. Password for electronic reserve is "rep474gabe".
- Introduction – principles of land use planning
Basics of land economics
- definitions, land concepts, types of land use, land use capacity, highest and best use, land markets
Readings:
Land Resource Economics by Raleigh Barlowe
*Chapter 1 – covers definitions of land, land concepts, land uses, land-use capacity and highest and best use
*Chapter 2a – covers economic concepts of supply, demand and equilibrium
- Theories of land rent and value
- Ricardo’s theory of land rent, Von Thunen’s theory of land rent, land value, monocentric city model, land use change
Readings:
Land Resource Economics by Raleigh Barlowe
*Chapter 6 – covers land rent and Ricardo’s theory of rent
*Chapter 9 – covers Von Thunen’s theory of rent
Local Economic Development by John Blair
*Chapter 10 – covers land rent, land value, highest and best use, land development decisions and the monocentric city model
*Quigley, John and Steven Raphael. 2004. "Is Housing Unaffordable? Why Isn’t it More Affordable?" Journal of Economic Perspectives, 18, 191-214.
*Irwin, Elena, Kathleen Bell and Jacqueline Geoghegan. 2003. "Modeling and Managing Urban Growth at the Rural-Urban Fringe: A Parcel-Level Model of Residential Land Use Change," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 32, 83-102.
- Market failure
- externalities and public goods
Readings:
Economic Approach to Environmental and Natural Resources by James Kahn
*Chapter 2 – covers the invisible hand and market failure
Economics and the Environment by Eban Goodstein
*Chapter 3.0 – 3.2 – covers externalities and public goods
*Vail, David. 2002. "Snowmobiling in Maine: Past Successes; Future Challenges," Maine Policy Review, 11, 130-139.
- Sprawl
Readings:
*Brueckner, Jan. 2000. "Urban Sprawl: Diagnosis and Remedies," unpublished manuscript. (Note: a version of this paper was published in the International Regional Science Review.)
*Nechyba, Thomas and Randall Walsh. 2004. "Urban Sprawl," Journal of Economic Perspectives, 18, 177-200
*Most, Sylvia, Samuel Merrill and Jack Kartez. 2004. "Smart Growth, State Policy and Public Process in Maine: The Dunstan Crossing Experience," Maine Policy Review, 13, 12-26.
- Introduction to growth management
- definitions, property rights, four cornerstones of local involvement in land use planning, zoning
Readings:
Managing Growth in America’s Communities by Douglas Porter
Chapter 1 – "Introduction to Growth Management"
Chapter 2 – "Growth Management Approaches and Techniques"
* Romero, Francine and Adrian Liserio. 2002. "Saving Open Space: Determinants of 1998 and 1999 ‘Antisprawl’ Ballot Measures," Social Science Quarterly, 83, 341-352.
* Howell-Moroney, Michael. 2004. "What are the Determinants of Open-Space Ballot Measures: An Extension of the Research," Social Science Quarterly, 85, 169-179.
7. Urban growth boundaries and similar growth management programs
Readings:
Managing Growth in America’s Communities by Douglas Porter
Chapter 3 – "Managing Community Expansion: Where to Grow"
8. Land use planning and environmental protection
- land acquisition, PDR programs, TDR programs, impact fees, etc.
Readings:
Managing Growth in America’s Communities by Douglas Porter
Chapter 4 – "Protecting Environmental and Natural Resources: Where Not to Grow"
*Feather, Peter and Charles Barnard. 2003. "Retaining Open Space with Purchasable Development Rights Programs," Review of Agricultural Economics, 25, 369-384.
*Lewis, David. 2001. "Easements and Conservation Policy in the North Maine Woods," Maine Policy Review, 10, 24-36.
9. Land use planning and farmland protection
- agricultural district laws, right-to-farm laws, differential assessments, easements, etc.
Readings:
Managing Growth in America’s Communities by Douglas Porter
Chapter 4 – "Protecting Environmental and Natural Resources: Where Not to Grow"
*Duke, Joshua. 2004. "Participation in Agricultural Land Preservation Programs: Parcel Quality and a Complex Policy Environment," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 33, 34-49.
10. Other selected growth management programs (time permitting)
- adequate public facilities, threshold standards, exactions, etc.
Readings:
Managing Growth in America’s Communities by Douglas Porter
Chapter 5 – "Managing Development of Infrastructure"
Other readings, TBA.
11. Market alternatives to growth management
12. Presentations, discussion and summary
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