The City of Portland’s land-use success is attributed to the Urban Growth Boundaries (UGB) instituted in the late 1970’s under Governor McCall. The UGB draws a tight zoning band around the city, reducing sprawl and promoting high density and infill development.
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Wall Street Journal, 1995

Vermont-based Whole Systems Design develops properties that integrate buildings, grow food, respond to the local climate, and save money by being low-maintenance, making them the epitome of putting land to productive use.  Founder, Ben Falk, is realizing his vision on educational campuses and non-profit owned land, seeing state and privately owned land converted to productive use.