Smart growth

Definition

Smart growth is an urban planning approach that promotes sustainable development, efficient land use, and community well-being by focusing on creating compact, transit-oriented, walkable neighborhoods. This strategy emphasizes the importance of balancing economic, environmental, and social factors in urban development to enhance quality of life while minimizing sprawl and resource consumption.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Smart growth aims to reduce urban sprawl by promoting higher-density living arrangements that encourage walking, biking, and the use of public transportation.
2. Key principles include mixed land use, preserving open spaces, fostering community engagement in planning processes, and improving infrastructure for non-motorized transport.
3. Smart growth strategies often involve collaboration among local governments, businesses, and citizens to create plans that reflect community values and needs.
4. Research shows that smart growth initiatives can lead to reduced traffic congestion, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improved public health outcomes through increased physical activity.
5. Many cities across the United States have adopted smart growth policies to revitalize urban centers and create more livable communities for residents.

Review Questions

• How does smart growth address the challenges of urban sprawl and promote sustainability in city planning?
  • Smart growth tackles urban sprawl by advocating for compact development patterns that minimize land consumption and encourage efficient use of resources. By promoting mixed-use neighborhoods where people can live, work, and play within close proximity, smart growth reduces reliance on automobiles. This leads to a lower carbon footprint, preserves green spaces, and fosters a sense of community by creating walkable environments that enhance social interactions.
• In what ways do zoning regulations support the principles of smart growth in urban planning?
  • Zoning regulations play a vital role in facilitating smart growth by designating specific areas for particular uses—such as residential, commercial, or recreational—while ensuring those areas are developed in a way that aligns with smart growth principles. By allowing for higher density developments near transit hubs and encouraging mixed-use zoning, these regulations help reduce urban sprawl and promote efficient land use. They also provide guidelines that help protect open spaces and natural resources while encouraging sustainable community designs.
• Evaluate the long-term impacts of implementing smart growth strategies on community health and economic vitality.
  • Implementing smart growth strategies can have significant long-term impacts on both community health and economic vitality. By promoting walkable neighborhoods and easy access to public transport, residents are more likely to engage in physical activity, leading to better overall health outcomes. Economically, smart growth fosters local businesses by creating vibrant communities where people prefer to shop and dine. Furthermore, cities that invest in smart growth often see increased property values and attract new residents who are drawn to the lifestyle benefits these developments offer, creating a positive cycle of economic growth.

Related terms

Sustainable Development: A development approach that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often incorporating economic growth with environmental protection.

Zoning:

The process of dividing land into zones for different uses, which regulates the type and density of development in specific areas to promote orderly growth and protect community interests.

Transit-Oriented Development: A type of urban development that maximizes access to public transport and encourages higher-density residential and commercial areas near transit stations.