Michael Davidson to help communities ‘think globally, act locally’
(Chicago)…..The
Campaign for Sensible Growth is pleased to welcome its new manager, Michael
Davidson, whose expertise
in
zoning, land use, and development practices
will strengthen and expand
the Campaign’s priorities of promoting economic development while preserving
open space, minimizing the need for costly new infrastructure, and improving
the livability of communities in northeastern Illinois and beyond. Davidson
was hired in March 2006 to replace former campaign
manager Ellen
Shubart, who retired in January.
Campaign leaders say
Davidson’s
knowledge
of local, regional, and national planning will bolster the Campaign’s efforts to
help
Illinois
communities create and implement better planning policies at home, while working
with them to meet a growing number of regional planning
needs.
“The Campaign for Sensible Growth is at a critical juncture, as our region
is projected to add more than 2 million people and 1.2 million jobs by 2030,”
said Campaign Co-Chair Ron Thomas, executive director of the Northeastern
Illinois Planning Commission.”Across our region, the Campaign’s principles are being
embraced by officials, developers and residents who recognize that collaborative
planning can enhance the livability of communities even as they grow. We are
fortunate to have Michael Davidson on board to continue the excellent work of
his predecessor, Ellen Shubart.”
Before joining
the Campaign, Davidson spent nine years in the research department of the
American Planning Association (APA), the professional association for the field of
urban and regional planning and an outspoken advocate for planning. While at APA,
he led a team of researchers in carrying out the functions of APA’s
Planning Advisory Service, helping practitioners solve land-use disputes and
implement sensible development practices. He also served as editor
of
Zoning
Practice, a best-practices publication on zoning and land-use policy.
Davidson was a regular contributor to
APA’s many programs of
applied research, producing
practical information about best practices in urban and regional planning in the
U.S.
“Michael
Davidson’s deep knowledge of model development practices is a boon to the
Campaign and the communities we work to assist,” said MarySue Barrett, co-chair
of the Campaign for Sensible Growth, and president of the Metropolitan Planning
Council.
“He knows what policies
and resources communities need to transform their visions into reality.”
David Galowich, a Campaign
steering committee member on behalf of the Urban Land Institute, said Davidson
will “further the goals of the Campaign by using his industry-relevant
experience to educate the public as to the
benefits
of superior planning, design and development in order to accommodate
economic and population growth using the best development practices
possible.”
Davidson also will strengthen the Campaign’s initiatives in high-growth
areas. As the Campaign expands its scope beyond the traditional six-county
region (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties) to help communities
in fast-growing counties such as Kendall and Grundy address stormwater
management and water supply issues, the organization increasingly is fielding
requests from rural communities anxious to address their growth and development
challenges head-on.
“My work with
planning practitioners at all levels and from nearly every point along the
exceedingly broad urban planning spectrum has shown me how important and
far-reaching planning is to our lives, our communities, and the world,” said Davidson.
“I’d like to carry the 'think globally, act locally' message to planning advocates
in
Illinois.”
Davidson
also will direct the Campaign’s redevelopment and reinvestment initiatives. With
local successes, such as helping to spur redevelopment of the Pacesetter
neighborhood in south suburban Riverdale, and recommending specific downtown
redevelopment strategies for more than a dozen communities, the Campaign will be
exploring ways to bring even more resources to the
challenge.
Davidson has authored
numerous works on urban planning, and is a regular speaker on planning issues.
He earned his graduate degree with distinction from the Public Services
Management program at
DePaul
University
, and is a member of the
American Planning Association, the
Illinois
chapter of APA, and the Urban Land
Institute.
The
Campaign for Sensible Growth is an action-oriented coalition of government,
civic, and business leaders working to promote economic development while
preserving open space, minimizing the need for costly new infrastructure, and
improving the livability of our communities.