Friday, April 14, 2000

WILMINGTON- UNC Wilmington's Chancellor James R. Leutze, political science professor Lee Johnston, and Wilmington's Mayor David Jones, were appointed to serve on three separate working groups of the N.C. Commission on Smart Growth. The working group members were appointed by the Commission's co-chairs, Sen. Howard Lee and Rep. Joe Hackney.

The 1999 Budget Bill created the N.C. Commission on Smart Growth (formerly called the Commission to Address Smart Growth, Growth Management and Development issues), and directed it to study growth, growth management, and development issues across North Carolina. "In order to carry out the work of the commission in the most productive and efficient form, working groups were formed to engage in in-depth evaluation, investigation, and discussion," said co-chairman Sen. Lee. Each working group consist of 12 or 13 commission members and three to four advisors.

Professor Johnston is serving on the working group on Farm and Open Space Preservation. Its focus is on keeping farmers farming, protection of the environment through better air and water quality, protection of wildlife habitat, and structuring taxes to provide incentives for the preservation of farm, forestry, and open space.

Chancellor Leutze was appointed to the working group on Regional Partnerships, and Mayor Jones will work with the Community and Downtown Vitalization group.