Policy and Advocacy — Envision Minnesota

At Envision Minnesota, we know that decisions about growth and development are not simply a matter of a “free market.” They are heavily influenced by – and subsidized through – myriad infrastructure investments, tax policies, and regulatory enforcement.

For instance, investment in new sewer capacity leads to new residential development, mortgage interest deductions for second homes make those homes more attractive and affordable, and regulations about lakeshore development can either encourage or discourage a more thoughtful approach to shoreland development.

The connection between all these disparate policies is that they all relate to decisions made at the state capitol. So land use is local, but the state writes the rules. Policy focus areas for Envision Minnesota:

• Expand transportation choices: Give Minnesotans affordable and convenient opportunities to walk, bike, take transit, and drive.

• Connect transportation and land use policy: Transportation investments and land use policies are treated as separate in the policy world, and yet in the real world, they are integrally connected.

• Demand performance from transportation investments: The state and local governments should spend transportation dollars where they can achieve measurable results on issues such as: increasing transit/bike/ped trips, reducing roadway injuries, reducing per capita VMT, etc.

• Expand housing opportunities: Communities should include housing for all income levels.

We are fortunate to have a policy director, John Bailey, who has worked for our national organization, Smart Growth America. He now serves as a board member on SGA. He works closely with partner organizations to build a shared policy platform, taking the lead on issues of critical priority to Envision Minnesota.

Phil Hunsicker is based in the lakes region where he leads the land use committee for a HUD Sustainable Communities planning grant in Region V. Phil advocates for shoreland standards and lifts up positive development examples through annual awards programs he coordinates in the Central MN lakes region.

John, Phil and executive director, Sally Wakefield, work with nonprofit and government partners to push for changes at the local, regional and state levels that will help create sustainable communities.

We know Minnesotans care about building efficiency into our public policies on land use, transportation, housing and energy. Help us inform the legislators who are shaping our state's future. Thank you for considering a gift to Envision Minnesota in support of our policy and advocacy work.