Smart Growth

This Is Smart Growth

Acknowledgements
This is a Smart Growth Network publication, produced under a cooperative agreement between the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The writing team included: ICMA—Dan Emerine, Christine Shenot; EPA—Mary Kay Bailey, Lee Sobel, and Megan Susman. Research assistance was provided byReginald LaFond and Sheritha Wright. Thanks to Jane Cotnoir for her editing and to Will Kemp for the graphic design. Special thanks to ICMA’s Nadejda Mishkovsky and EPA’s Geoff Anderson for their guidance and leadership. ICMA would also like to thank the Smart Growth Network working group for shaping the publication, providing essential ideas, and reviewing the text for accuracy. Members of ICMA’sSmart Growth Advisory Group and colleagues, friends, and family of the writing team also reviewed early drafts of the document and provided helpful comments.

• Raising public awareness of how growth can improve quality of life; • Promoting smart growth best practices; • Developing and sharing information, innovative policies, tools, and ideas; and About the Smart Growth Network The Smart GrowthNetwork (SGN) is a network of private, public, and non-governmental partner organizations seeking to improve development practices in neighborhoods, communities, and regions across the United States. The network was formed in response to increasing community concerns about the need for new ways to grow that boost the economy, protect the environment and public health, and enhance community vitality.SGN partners include environmental groups, historic preservation organizations, professional organizations, developers, real estate interests, and local and state government entities. SGN works to encourage development that serves the economy, community, public health, and the environment. It is a forum for: • Cultivating strategies to address barriers to and advance opportunities for smartgrowth. For more information about SGN and its partners, visit www.smartgrowth.org. Join the Smart Growth Network Any individual or organization interested in finding innovative tools and strategies for community development can become a member of the Smart Growth Network. As an SGN member, you will be part of a diverse network of private, public, and nonprofit partners seeking to encourage betterdevelopment decisions, and you’ll gain information to help implement smart growth principles in your own community. Membership is free! To join, visit www.smartgrowth.org/sgn/join.asp, or send an e-mail to smartgrowth@icma.org. You can also contact SGN by calling 202/962-3623.

Contents
Introduction: What Is Smart Growth? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 A Shot at the American Dream of Opportunity for All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 Safe, Convenient Neighborhoods With Homes That People Can Afford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 Development Decisions That Are Fair to Everyone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 4 Investing Taxpayer Money Wisely in Our Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 5 Protecting and Preserving Our Natural Heritage and Working Lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 6 Freedom to Choose How We Get Around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 12 7 Healthy Communities for All Ages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 8 Places Designed for People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 9 A Lasting Legacy in Our Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....