Land Use and Growth

The Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) system is used to assess land for agricultural use and economic potential. It is being used in seven Iowa counties. 

The Ames Urban Fringe Plan (2006) is a shared land use plan cooperatively developed by Boone County, Story County, the City of Ames and the City of Gilbert.

The Center for Watershed Protection provides tools for clean water and healthy natural resources and promotes implementation of state-of-the-art watershed management techniques.

The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) website provides a wide variety of information on disaster planning, mitigation, response and recovery.

Guidebook from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and the American Planning Association (APA).

Found here is a links library of resources for infill development, including guidebooks, funding resources, ordinances, and case studies.

Tools and resources provided by PlanIowa.com.

A number of programs, educational opportunities, and an overview of the Conservation Reserve Program are provided.

Presents the Iowa Drainage Dristrict Association's (IDDA) website.

Iowa’s central location for advanced research and education focused on floods. The Iowa Flood Center's website provides links to flood resources, including publications, a photo gallery, and data sources.

Iowa Flood Information System's website is a one-stop web-platform to access community-based flood conditions, forecasts, visualizations, inundation maps and flood-related data, information, and applications.

From Iowa State University - An online store full of resources such as land use guides and memos.

The Land Use Policy Plan is the comprehensive plan for the City of Ames, Iowa. Access to the complete Land Use Policy Plan can be found here.

This case study provides an overview of Dubuque's Millwork District Revitalization Project. Also included is the executive summary of the master plan for the project in addition to the complete master plan.

This website provides an overview of the purpose and management of the Portland Metro  urban growth boundary.

Found here is the West Des Moines, Iowa City Code pertaining to the Jordan Creek Overlay District.

An overview of Prairie Crossing Conservation Community in Grayslake, Illinois. The community is considered a national example of how to design communities to help support a better way of life.

Access this link to view the Regional Smart Plan for Dubuque County and its website.

Part 1 (Zoning Manual) and Part 2 (Zoning Manuscript) of the Dubuque County Rural Model Smart Code can be accessed here.

Multiple links are provided to an overview, guidebook, and description of programs and other efforts being taken to improve quality of life in Dakota County, Minnesota.

From Iowa State University - The blog on land use and zoning.

The Public Policy Center's (PPC) mission at the University of Iowa is to provide decision-makers with information that can make lifestyles and communities thrive in sustainable ways through academic research.

The City of Dubuque's Unified Development Code (UDC).