Strengths and Weaknesses of Sustainable Land Use Policy in Greensburg, Kansas

Abstract

Sustainable development and planning have been the driving agents of European land use policies for many years, but the concept of sustainability has been slow to take hold in the United States until recent years. This article briefly explores the strengths and weaknesses of new sustainable land development regulations in Greensburg, Kansas, which was devastated by a tornado in 2007. Community leaders and residents worked collaboratively to establish new regulations to rebuild a "greener" Greensburg, and the community's accomplishments will hopefully serve as examples of sustainable land use policies for other cities and towns in the nation to follow.