What is Smart Growth?
Smart Growth is development that serves the economy, community, and environment equitably and sustainably. Smart Growth concepts use existing good design principals and put them together in a comprehensive framework. Important principals include:
• Create a range of housing opportunities and choices.
• Create walkable neighborhoods.
• Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration.
• Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place.
• Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective.
• Mix land uses.
• Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas.
• Provide a variety of transportation choices.
• Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities.
• Take advantage of compact building design.
These principals seem straightforward and logical but today's development patterns and land use ordinances often run counter to the ideas promoted by Smart Growth. Keeping people and businesses interested and engaged in compact developed areas that cities and towns furnish is pivotal in achieving the balance between economy, community and environment. WPC works to help keep our urban communities vital through the programs of our Community Conservation Department.
WPC's Watershed Planning Coordinator, Carla Ruddock, took today's photo of a street in downtown New Castle that is uses smart growth principals in its downtown revitalization efforts. One smart growth practice is having a buffer of trees between the sidewalk and roadway, creating a safer, more attractive, walkable community.
Play Know Your Western Pennsylvania Birds?
E-mail Today's WPC Daily to a Friend!
| 