A recent publication by the National Association of Counties (NACo) provides an overview of community development and coordinated land use decisions between U.S. counties and neighboring military installations.

The document cites the U.S. Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program as a key organization facilitating the partnership between military and county stakeholders. Additionally, NACo attributed the 2018 farm bill as an important tool in compatible land use near DOD installations and local communities.

The report highlighted three communities with current programs supporting successful compatible land use: Thurston County, Washington and Joint Base Lewis-McChord; Cochise County, Arizona and Fort Huachuca; and St. Mary’s County, Maryland and Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River.

Photo by U.S. Army