"The most recent land development data show that the sky is not falling, that Michigan is not consuming land at some horrific rate. Michigan's share of land devoted to development increased from 8.5% in 1992 to 9.5% in 1997, which ranks the state 17th in percentage of developed land. The state is only about 10% developed," Staley says.

He says Michigan policy-makers should be wary of adopting schemes similar to the centralized growth management planning adopted in states including Oregon, Florida, Washington, and Tennessee. Staley adds that approach ignores the dynamic and uncertain nature of the housing market and has produced skyrocketing housing costs and other unforeseen problems of its own.

He suggests policy-makers instead should ensure that housing diversity and choice are maximized in Michigan's metropolitan areas by freeing up the real estate market. This could be accomplished by allowing more flexibility in zoning codes, administratively approving projects rather than subjecting them to highly politicized legislative processes, and using voluntary overlay districts to accommodate innovative site designs such as cluster housing, Staley says.

"Before moving Michigan toward a more centrally planned land use model, state policy-makers should consider why local governments and the free market are better equipped to deal with local land use issues," he says.