Departmental News
Kurt Paulsen presented a paper, "Historical Evolution of Housing Unit Variety in the Suburbs" at The Diverse Suburb Conference at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY.
Alfonso Morales's research was the focus of a feature story in the October 22nd edition of Wisconsin Week, the official all campus newspaper. The full story "Street markets are this professor’s laboratory," begins by noting "Alfonso Morales didn’t sit in a library to do research for his graduate degrees." It can be read at: http://www.news.wisc.edu/17258.
Dave Marcouiller returned to Norway in July and August to conduct applied tourism planniing research on the Olav Duun Stemnet (a cultural festival in honor of novelist Olav Duun) with colleague Knut Ingar Westeren, Professor of Economics at North Trondelag Univerity College in Steinkjer. Ingar will be visiting the Department in early November to discuss his work on Knowledge Economies with the URPL/Econ/LaF 734 students ... hopefully, we will entice him to provide an URPL Faculty Lecture on a related topic while he is here. Stay tuned.
Harvey M. Jacobs traveled to Taiwan in late September to engage in training and deliver lectures. Continuing his (and the Department's) long-time relationship with the International Center for Land Policy Studies and Training in Taiwan he served as a one-week lecturer as part of their six week short course on Land Policy for Sustainable Rural Development. He was also invited to lecture at National Taipei University’s Department of Real Estate and the Built Environment; his lecture was titled “The Bark is Worse than the Bite: Legal and Social Conflict Over Expropriation after the U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo Decision” and was based on recent research undertaken with funding from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Brian Ohm has been appointed by Rod Nilsestuen, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), to the new Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) Council. The PACE program was created as part of the Wisconsin Working Lands Initiative passed by the Legislature as part of the state budget earlier this year. The Council will advise DATCP on the administration of the PACE program.
Asli Gocmen is the author of an article in the most recent issue of Journal of Planning Education and Research (vol. 29, no. 1) entitled, "Relationships between Residential Development and the Environment: Examining Resident Perspectives."
Kurt Paulsen has published a Working Paper with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy entitled "The Effects of Land Development on Municipal Finance: A Conceptual Overview," available here.
Alfonso Morales was awarded a Faculty Diversity Research Award for the Fall semster of 2009 from the University of Wisconsin-System. He will be working on his research on street markets and food systems.
Harvey M. Jacobs co-hosted an official delegation from the nation of Trinidad and Tobago who came to UW for two weeks in August for a specially designed training program on land management organized through the Land Tenure Center. The delegation received lectures from Prof. Jacobs and others, and visited sites throughout the state to see how land management is undertaken by state, county, tribal, and private owners. The delegation’s goal is to draw on Wisconsin’s experience and the long-standing relationship of the Land Tenure Center with Trinidad and Tobago as they begin a new phase of land management policy and implementation for the 52% of national lands that are publicly owned.
Kurt Paulsen is a co-author of an article in the most recent issue of the journal Urban Affairs Review (vol. 45, no. 1) entitled, "Is Open-Space Preservation a Form of Exclusionary Zoning? The Evolution of Municipal Open-Space Policies in New Jersey."
Haiyan Zhong presented Urban Agglomeration Cooperation Policy in Core Region of Upper Yangtze River at the AsRES-AREUEA Joint International Conference in Los Angeles. Her presentation examines the system obstacle in the development of Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration in upper Yangtze River of China, discovers the dual mechanisms, system innovation and policy guarantee in the harmonious development of regional economy.
Harvey Jacobs is the author of "Planning is Un-American! (or what to say when you are accused of being a communist)" in the June issue of the newsletter of the Small Town and Rural Planning division of the American Planning Association.
Harvey Jacobs is the author of a chapter in a new book published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy – Property Rights and Land Policies, edited by G. K. Ingram and Y-H Hong; the chapter is titled “U.S. Private Property Rights in International Perspective."
In April and May, Assistant Professor Alfonso Morales, presented work on public markets at the Project for Public Spaces Conference on Public Markets in San Francisco and at the American Planning Association Meetings in Minneapolis. Morales also delivered a keynote address at the conference, “Urban Street Vending: Economic Resistance, Integration, or Marginalization?” at the Technical University, Berlin Germany.
On May.12, 2009, Haiyan Zhong was invited by Department of Economics, University of Chicago to present with title of “Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration-A Developing Urban Agglomeration in Western Region of China”. Based on a spatial structure perspective, her presentation showed ideas and development approaches of Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration in western region of China. This presentation examined the evolution of rank-size distribution and spatial distribution of Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration, and influence of 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China on spatial structure of this region. Haiyan Zhong is a visiting scholar working with Professor Jack R. Huddleston.
Harvey Jacobs is the author of a short, commissioned essay in the May issue of Planning magazine (vol. 75, no. 5). The issue is devoted to recognizing the 100th anniversary of American planning by "Celebrating the Next 100 Years." His article is titled "Private Property in the 22nd Century" (page 24).
As part of the University Lecture Series, URPL is sponsoring a talk by Sharon Adams, Program Director of Walnut Way Corps in Milwaukee. The title of her talk is "Building A Sustainable Neighborhood in the Inner City: The Case of Milwaukee’s Walnut Way" and will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. in Grainger Hall, room 5120 on the UW Campus.
Sharon Adams is Program Director of Walnut Way Conservation Corps in Milwaukee WI. Her lecture will emphasize the innovative framework they employ to guide neighborhood civic, economic, and environmental practices. The framework is premised on principles of social justice and environmental stewardship, a culture of mutual aid and peaceful negotiations, and a spirit of restorative love. Among the components of sustainability that the Walnut Way Conservation Corp promotes is a neighborhood that fosters: opportunities for artistic expression; access to quality and affordable food; environmental stewardship; workforce and business development; civic engagement; enriching educational and social opportunities for all ages; increased spiritual, physical and mental well-being; and quality housing to serve an economically diverse population.
Walnut Way Conservation Corps recently received a 1 million dollar Zilber Neighborhood Initiative Award to help transform the 30 block area surrounding the organization.
In 2001, she and her husband, Larry Adams, launched the non-profit Walnut Way Conservation Corp. Since then, $19 million of private housing investment has been accomplished in the neighborhood. 125 new homes have been constructed, 142 homes rehabbed, a neighborhood center has been built, and 42 rain gardens installed.
Harvey Jacobs and Kurt Paulsen are co-authors of an article in the most recent issue of the Journal of the American Planning Association (vol. 75, no. 2) devoted to celebrating the 100th anniversary of American planning (the first conference was held in 1909). Their article's title: "Property Rights: The Neglected Theme of 20th Century American Planning."
Alfonso Morales is hosting Gregg Kettles, (Loyola Law - Los Angeles) March 31 - April 1 for talks on the Food System and Planning Practice - contact Alfonso directly for more information.
Harvey Jacobs is the author of the recently published article: “An Alternative Perspective on U.S. – European Property Rights and Land Use Planning: Differences without any Substance,” in the March issue of the American Planning Association publication Planning and Environmental Law (vol. 61, no. 3, 2009, pp. 3-12).
A report co-authored by Kurt Paulsen on regional planning efforts in Pennsylvania was recently featured in an editorial by the Philadelphia Inquirer available here.
Harvey Jacobs traveled to Aalborg, Denmark in February to present a paper at the third conference of the International Academic Association on Planning, Law and Property Rights http://planninglaw2009.land.aau.dk/ . A version of the paper is forthcoming as the lead article in the March issue of American Planning Association journal, Planning and Environmental Law http://www.planning.org/pel/.
Alfonso Morales and Gregg Kettles published "Zoning for Public Markets and Street Vendors" in Zoning Practice, February 2009. They are hosting "Ask the Author" questions through March.
Jim LaGro authored an op-ed offering suggestions for the Obama administration's economic stimulus package. The article, titled "Invest in Nature's Infrastructure," is posted, here, on Planetizen.
Alfonso Morales continued his outreach by participating in "Creating Healthy Mobile Vending Policies" technical assistance call sponsored by Planning for Healthy Places. His webpage, openair.org, is resource of the month. See www.healthyplanning.org
Harvey Jacobs and Ed Jepson (URPL Ph.D. 1999, assistant professor, University of Tennessee) are co-authors of the entry “Regional Planning” in the recently published, second edition of the Encyclopedia of Rural America: The Land and People, G. A. Goreham, ed., Millerton, NY: Grey House Publishing, 2008, pp. 808-811.
Alfonso Morales' URPL 590 Markets and Food Systems attended the Growing Food and Justice for All conference in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Students learned about food planning related activities around the country.
In September Harvey Jacobs was invited by the Chazen Museum of Art on campus to present a talk in their series “In My View: UW Faculty Interpretations of Artworks.” where non-art faculty comment on one or more pieces in the permanent collection. His talk – “Man, Nature and Machine” – contrasted views of nature, the managed, agricultural landscape, and the industrial landscape as depicted by American and Russian painters in the 1930s and 1940s. And in October Harvey continued his and the Department’s long-standing relationship with the International Center for Land Policy Studies and Training in Taiwan by serving as a one-week lecturer for their six week short course on Land Policy for Sustainable Rural Development. He also accepted an invitation to lecture to the Institute of Natural Resource Management of National Taipei University on “Conflicts Over Land and Natural Resources in the U.S.: Social Rights vs. Individual Rights.”
Alfonso Morales will be presenting Planning for Public Markets and Street Merchants at the Upper Midwest APA conference. His presentation will show how public markets create economic activity and a sense of place, and serve agendas beyond financial transactions. The presentation examines how markets promote economic and community development and impact local food systems by involving a greater diversity of participants. Learn about requirements for market regulation. Discover how design, infrastructure, security, and transportation influence market success.
Kurt Paulsen has completed a research report on multi-jurisdiction comprehensive planning efforts in the state of Pennsylvania. The report was prepared for 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, a smart growth advocacy organization. The report, entitled “Plan Regionally, Implement Locally: An Evaluation of Multi-municipal Planning and Implementation in Pennsylvania” examined 172 multi-municipal planning efforts since the “Growing Smarter” legislation in 2000. The report provides summaries of the legislation, evaluation of planning and implementation efforts, and recommendations to improve practice in Pennsylvania. The report summary is available at http://www.10000friends.org/growth/mmp/#planregionally.
Kurt Paulsen was recently quoted in a news article from the Center for Public Integrity’s “Land Use Accountability Project.” Professor Paulsen was quoted discussing the “curative amendment” process in Pennsylvania, whereby developers challenge exclusionary zoning in Pennsylvania. The article can be found at: http://www.publicintegrity.org/investigations/luap/articles/entry/545/
Prof. Harvey M. Jacobs has been a featured, invited speaker at several local and national events in the last few months. In July he gave the closing address before the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program on “Fighting Over Land and Property Rights: An American Pastime!” In June he presented the introductory talk to an invitational, international conference held by the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy in Cambridge, Massachusetts, “Land Policies and Property Rights”; he spoke on “U.S. Private Property Rights in International Perspective.” And in April he spoke at the annual meeting of the American Planning Association in Las Vegas, Nevada where he shared the podium for the Bettman Symposium session on “Private Property Rights, Today and Tomorrow” speaking on “Property Rights Conflicts in American Historical Perspective.”
The Wisconsin Chapter of the American Planning Association is hosting the 2008 Upper Midwest Planning Conference on September 18-19 at Monona Terrace in Madison. The preliminary program can be found by clicking on the link below.
http://www.wisconsinplanners.org/events/upper_midwest_prelim_program_7_22_08.pdf
Brian Ohm was recently appointed by the Wisconsin Legislature to serve on the Special Committee on Regional Transportation Authority Legislative. The Committee is directed to review and provide recommendations on how to create a statutory framework enabling local governments to create regional transportation authorities, including funding mechanisms, the method of creation, membership, scope of authority, and the types of transportation services that the authority could administer. The Committee is comprised of legislators and citizen representatives of various interest groups. The Committee will present its recommendaitons to the Legislature in 2009.
In Memorium - Tim Dienger, 31, the first town of Onalaska administrator and a former University of Wisconsin offensive tackle, died Sunday July 13, 2008 in La Crosse. He received his MS in Urban and Regional Planning in 2001. Dienger is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Kealan, 6, and Finola, 3.
Department Ranked Highly by Planetizen
Planetizen, in collaboration with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, has released the 2009 Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs. The program here at UW-Madison was ranked 6th by practitioners, 13th by educators, and 17th overall (and 4th in the Midwest Region) by Planetizen's editors. Our program was also rated among the best in Environmental Planning, Land Use Planning, and Real Estate Development. More details can be found here: http://www.planetizen.com/topschools
Jim LaGro's Site Planning class presented, on May 12, 2008, proposed design guidelines for Madison's Urban Design District 6. The report can be accessed here
Dr. Susana Lastarria Receives UW Award
In April 2008 Dr. Susana Lastarria-Cornhiel was the recipient of the first Annual UW-Madison Outstanding Women of Color Award. Dr. Lastarria, a senior scientist in URPL and a native of Peru, shared the receipt of this award with five other women on the UW campus.
Dr. Lastarria received her Ph.D. at UW-Madison, and spent much of her career on the staff of the Land Tenure Center. Testimonials for the award noted her long-standing and ground breaking work connecting land rights and women’s rights in the developing world through applied research in Central and South America, Africa, and the former Soviet Union, and her influence on institutions such as the U.S. Agency for International Development and the World Bank.
In URPL, Dr. Lastarria teaches one course per year on international development planning. She is currently working with a number of URPL students on their master’s theses.
Professor Harvey Jacobs knighted by French Government
On March 27, 2008 Professor Harvey M. Jacobs was awarded an L’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of the Academic Palms), rank Chevalier (Knight) by the government of France.
The Palmes Académiques is one of France’s most cherished awards, dating to 1808, and is one of the world’s oldest civil awards. L’Ordre des Palmes Académiques was initiated by Napoleon to to honor eminent members of the University of Paris. In 1866, the scope of the award was widened to include major contributions to French national education made by anybody, including those who are not French citizens.
The Palmes recognizes dedication and accomplishment in the areas of teaching, scholarship and research. L’Ordre des Palmes Académiques was awarded to Prof. Jacobs for his co-leadership of the project “Environmental Policy, Land Use and Conservation Biology in Franco-American Perspective,” conducted collaboratively between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and l’Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Montpellier, France, under funding from the Franco-American Cultural Exchange Foundation for French-American Academic Partnerships.
Brian Ohm recently authored a "friend of the court" brief on behalf of the American Planning Association and the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Planning Association in a significant case currently pending before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The case entitled "Wisconsin Realtors Association v. Town of West Point" involves a challenge to the authority of local governments in Wisconsin to impose temporary moratoria on subdivisions/land divisions while a community prepares an update to its comprehensive plan. The Wisconsin Realtors Association and the Wisconsin Builders Association allege that the Town of West Point does not have the authority to impose a temporary moratoria under Wisconsin law. The APA and WAPA disagree with that interpretation and the negative impact the case could have on local government's ability to protect public health, safety and welfare. This is a case of first impression in the state of Wisconsin. A copy of the brief is available on APA's website at: http://www.planning.org/amicusbriefs/pdf/wisconsinrealtors.pdf
Harvey Jacobs is serving a second one year term with the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (the Fulbright Commission) on the panel that reviews urban planning applications for the Fulbright Senior Specialists Program. The program invites applications from senior practitioners and scholars in urban planning for short international visits under the sponsorship of universities or public agencies.
As part of his continuing European work, Prof. Jacobs will be collaborating with a frequent UW visitor, Prof. Rafael Crecente Maseda of the University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, in a new Spanish research program on “Decision Support Systems for Land Use Planning at the Local Level.” He will be joined by participants from Brazil, Italy, and Norway.
Closer to home, in August, Prof. Jacobs was the featured speaker to the Sensible Land Use Coalition of the Minnesota Twin Cities; his talk was part of a program on “Property Rights vs. Community Rights: Backlash or Whiplash?” Most recently Prof. Jacobs is the author of “New Actions or New Arguments over Regulatory Takings?” Yale Law Journal Pocket Part 117 (2007): 65-70; http://yalelawjournal.org/2007/09/16/jacobs.html
Harvey Jacobs is the author of one of the featured articles in the April 2007 issue of Land Lines, the quarterly magazine of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. The article "Social Conflict Over Property Rights" can be accessed via the Lincoln website at http://www.lincolninst.edu/pubs/PubDetail.aspx?pubid=1222
In February Harvey Jacobs gave a lecture on "Social Conflict Over Property Rights: Domestic, European and Global" at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), under the joint sponsorship of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning and the Special Program for Urban and Regional Studies (SPURS). In March he traveled to Taiwan where he gave a lecture and participated in a research workshop at the Department of Real Estate and Built Environment of National Taipei University. In addition he continued his long-standing relationship with the International Center for Land Policy Studies and Training of Taiwan, teaching a one week short course in their 102nd Regular Session on Land Policy for Sustainable Rural Development. Later in March he traveled to Spain where he instructed a short course titled "Planning Theory, Land Policy, and Property Rights," at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Department of Agroforestry Engineering. Together with colleagues from the Netherlands, he assisted faculty in the design of new graduate degree programs in planning at the master's and Ph.D. levels.
Government Benefits from Professor's Planning Expertise
The work of Professor Brian Ohm was recently spotlighted in the Wisconsin Week, a publication of UW-Madison. To read the article, click here. Professor Ohm was also recently recognized as a "backyard hero" for his volunteer work as a founding board member of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin and in helping to create Wisconsin's 1999 comprehensive planning legislation. To read article, click here. Ohm's work on the comprehensive planning legislation was also discussed in the February 2007 issue of Planning magazine.
Professor Brian Ohm is the principle investigator of a $58,483 grant from the National Sea Grant Law Center to evaluate local strategies to manage Great Lakes coastal hazards and to develop model ordinances for local Great Lakes communities. The ordinances will incorporate recent innovations in methodologies for understanding bluff stability and computer visualization of Great Lakes coastal hazards. URPL Affiliate Faculty David Hart is the co-principal investigator on the project.
Professor Brian Ohm is the co-principal investigator (along with Mike Adams, Emeritus Professor in Botany) of a $65,000 grant from the United States Department of Education to conduct a trans-Atlantic comparison of education about U.S. and European institutions involved in environmental policy. Ohm and Adams will be working on a comparison of the lower Elbe River in Germany with the Wisconsin River. The work will culminate in an international conference in Madison in 2008.
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Connections
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