Luther Propst

Luther Propst

Luther Propst co-founded and directs the Sonoran Institute, with offices in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona; Bozeman and Helena, Montana; Grand Junction, Colorado; Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Mexicali, Mexico. The Sonoran Institute’s mission is to inspire and enable community decisions and public policies that respect the land and people of the West. Under his guidance the Institute has grown to an annual budget of $5.2 million and is now recognized as a leading practitioner of community-based, collaborative, and innovative conservation efforts to integrate conservation and economic values throughout the West. The Sonoran Institute also works throughout the West on policies to improve the management of state trust lands, to better integrate conservation into land development, and to assist cities and counties better manage growth.

Previously, Propst practiced law, where he represented landowners, local governments, and organizations nationwide in land-use matters, and with World Wildlife Fund in Washington D.C. Propst received his law degree and master’s in regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Propst has co-authored three books, and frequently speaks and writes on Western conservation, growth management, economic development, and state trust lands. In addition, he serves on the boards of the National Conservation System Foundation, High Country News, the Murie Center, the Rincon Institute, and the Arizona League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.

Balancing Nature and Commerce in Gateway Communities

Increasing numbers of Americans are fleeing cities and suburbs for the small towns and open spaces that surround national and state parks, wildlife refuges, historic sites, and other public lands. With their scenic beauty and high quality of life, these "gateway communities" have become a magnet for those looking to escape the congestion and fast tempo of contemporary American society.

Yet without savvy planning, gateway communities could easily meet the same fate as the suburban communities that were the promised land of an earlier generation.

Creating Successful Communities

A Guidebook To Growth Management Strategies

Creating Successful Communities is a practical compendium of techniques for effective land use and growth management. It offers a framework for land-use decisionmaking and growth management: techniques for protecting key resources such as agricultural land, open space, historic and cultural structure, aesthetics, and rivers and wetlands as well as ways to organize effectively. The companion Resource Guide provides detailed information on topics covered in I>Creating Successful Communities.

Resource Guide for Creating Successful Communities

Developed to assist users of Creating Successful Communities, the Resource Guide for Creating Successful Communities includes a detailed outline of the many tax benefits of private land conservation; examples of ordinances covering all land types, articles of incorporation, bylaws, and easements; and a glossary of growth management tools.