54. 
as long as the long-run public interest in preserving a given area as 
open space for example, must undergo reevaluation time after time, 
in competition with immediate pressures generated by each proposal 
for private development. This scattered development in turn sets the 
precedent for more development by destroying some of the open 
space values which have helped to justify public control, and by 
siphoning off development that would otherwise create compact 
centers in more appropriate locations.” The most effective technique 
for dealing with this problem is “land banking.” 
The land bank provides a community with an effective means of controlling 
the character and timing of urban development. Fundamentally, the local govern- 
ment acquires land and holds it until conditions are appropriate for public use 
or sale on the private market for purposes that are included in the community’s. 
comprehensive plan. This idea has not been used widely, although it seems as 
if it would work quite effectively. 
In order to achieve the seven objectives mentioned at the beginning 
of this discussion of incentive-control systems for land use guidance, 
the State government needs to enact legislation enabling State, 
regional, and/or local development authorities or agencies to acquire 
land in advance of the development for the following purposes: (a) 
assuring the continuing availability of sites needed for development; 
(b) controlling the timing, location, type and scale of development; 
(c) preventing urban sprawl, (d) reserving for the public gains in land 
values resulting from the action of government in promotion and 
securing development. 
At such time as the development of such land is deemed to be 
appropriate and in the interests of the region, such land could be 
sold or leased at no less than its fair market value for private develop- 
ment or public development in accordance with approved state and 
regional urban growth plans. Wherever feasible, long term leases 
should be the preferred method of disposing of any public land, and 
leases should be set so as to permit reassembly of properties for 
future planning and development. Legislation should specify maxi- 
ite period that such land may be held by the public before lease or 
sale. 
AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK FOR NEW COMMUNITY 
DEVELOPMENT 
Implicit in any decision to provide for state control over the de- 
velopment of new communities is a coordinated public decision making 
and planning process. To implement the development of new com- 
munities requires the full and coordinated use of existing and pro- 
posed public powers to guide and structure the urban development 
process. Any implementation strategy should be based on a statewide 
development plan and planning process as well as an accepted, ordered 
set of goals. In essence, consistency and conformity with area-wide 
plans will be the most important criteria in evaluating the desirability 
of expending public as well as private resources.” 
22 Bain, op. cit., p. 43. 
2% Kaplan, op. cit. 
% Douglas Commission, op. cit., p. 250: 
2% Heeter, op. cit., pp. 58-59. 
