CRM History
During its first ten years of existence, from 1985 to 1995, state-of-the art work was done in regard to accommodating community growth with minimal loss of rural character, instituting open space zoning, creating vital village centers, quantifying change in rural Massachusetts, and exploring alternatives for economic development. Under the leadership of Professor Robert Yaro and Randall Arendt of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, the Center was an early proponent of smart growth.
After the mid 1990’s, CRM functioned principally as a publishing medium for relevant research and studies. In 2004, the Center was re-energized with a new mandate and vision: to affect a true integration of traditional land use planning with natural resource conservation and the promotion of working landscape strategies.
For too long, environmental organizations have looked at natural resources, land use planners at zoning tools and economic development groups at tax bases, each with little consideration of the whole picture. CRM now strives to employ the most advanced tools and techniques to help bring about an amalgamation of these approaches to local planning, rural and small town development.
After the mid 1990’s, CRM functioned principally as a publishing medium for relevant research and studies. In 2004, the Center was re-energized with a new mandate and vision: to affect a true integration of traditional land use planning with natural resource conservation and the promotion of working landscape strategies.
For too long, environmental organizations have looked at natural resources, land use planners at zoning tools and economic development groups at tax bases, each with little consideration of the whole picture. CRM now strives to employ the most advanced tools and techniques to help bring about an amalgamation of these approaches to local planning, rural and small town development.
Meet Our Team
ROBERT RYAN
Center Director |
MARK HAMIN
Outreach Coordinator |
