Smart Growth Principles

Sustainable Urbanism, as articulated by Doug Farr in his book of the same name, includes three components - application of smart growth principles, transit-oriented new urbanism design of communities and neighborhoods, and use of high performance infrastructure and buildings. The first component is a reference to the 10 principles identified in 1996 by the Smart Growth Movement:

1. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices
2. Create walkable neighborhoods.
3. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration.
4. Foster distinctive, attractive places with a strong sense of place.
5. Make development decisions predictable, fair and cost-effective.
6. Mix land uses.
7. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas.
8. Provide a variety of transportation choices.
9. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities.
10. Take advantage of compact building design.

Farr suggests that smart location focuses new development on land that is immediately adjacent to existing development and on infill sites. However, as you can see by reviewing all 10 principles, smart development is more than just a consideration of location. There are overlaps with new urbanism design concepts, including: walkability, involving stakeholders, creating a sense of place, providing a mix of land uses and preserving open space and critical environmental areas.

There are those who continue to espouse and create suburban and exurban neighborhoods and communities where autos rule. There are others who are quite vocal in opposing smart growth, reacting regressively and emotionally to what they perceive as the end of the American dream and loss of property rights. These perspectives, which need to be understood to be overcome, beg the question - is more of the same sustainable over time?