Ed McMahon

Ed McMahon Sustainable development, land conservation, smart growth, historic preservation — Ed McMahon was an authority on these areas long before they became nationally “in” topics. Today he remains a foremost authority on their import and their interaction with American society.

Presently the Urban Land Institute’s Senior Fellow for Sustainable Development, McMahon lead’s LUI’s worldwide research and educational activities related to environmentally sensitive development policies and practices. He also holds ULI’s Charles E. Fraser Chair on Sustainable Development.

Nationally known as an inspiring and thought provoking speaker and leading authority on sustainability-related themes, McMahon spent 14 years as the vice president and director of land use planning for the Conservation Fund, headquartered n Arlington, Virginia, a position in which he helped to protect more than 5 million acres of land of historic or natural significance. He is also the co-founder and former president of Scenic America, a national non-profit organization devoted to protecting America’s scenic landscapes. Before that, he taught law and public policy at Georgetown University Law Center.

McMahon is the author or co-author of 15 books and over 200 articles. His books include: Better Models for Development in Maryland, Developing Sustainable Planned Communities, Green Infrastructure: Connecting Landscape and Communities, Land Conservation Finance, and Balancing Nature and Commerce in Gateway Communities. McMahon also writes regularly for Urban Land Magazine, Planning Commissioners Journal and other periodicals. During the past 20 years he has drafted numerous local land use plans and ordinances and organized successful efforts to acquire and protect urban parkland, wilderness areas, and other conservation properties.

Last updated February 21, 2010