Rojas 1
Diana Rojas
Mr. Aldrich
Contemporary Society 204
16 March 2015
Smart Growth Overview: Principles and History
How cities of all sizes grow determines whether their communities will prosper or
decline. By following smart growth principles, urban centers can be inviting, sustainable,
vibrant, and affordable places to live and work for generations of residents.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), cities that develop
according to smart growth principles are economically competitive, socially diverse, and
naturally healthy. Neighborhoods are compact and walkable, with transportation alternatives
such as bike paths and efficient transit systems. Schools and other community buildings anchor
the neighborhoods, and mixed-use development provide a range of housing choices for people
at all stages of life (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1).
The EPA identifies several principles of smart growth, including compact building
design, mixed land use, a range of housing opportunities and choices, identifiable communities
with a strong sense of place and involvement, preserved open space, and a variety of
transportation options.
Smart growth is an antidote to urban sprawl, traffic congestion, and urban decay. One
goal of smart growth is to make a community more attractive to new businesses by improving
the quality of life and encouraging residents to shop, work, and play locally, which stimulates
economic activity. The businesses provide jobs for residents and convenient places to buy
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goods and services. The economic boon increases property values and expands the tax base
while controlling growth and keeping economic expansion sustainable (Nelson 27-31).
The concepts of smart growth were first proposed in the early 1970s as a reaction to
developers and politicians who based transportation plans on motor vehicles and wanted to
build and widen highways in historic or critical environmental areas. At first, communities
simply fought to protect the land designated for highways by placing it in conservancies. Soon
architects and urban planners promoted the idea of urban villages that didn’t need to rely on
automobiles, but used public transit, bicycling, and walking as their primary means of
transportation (Moskowitz 13).
The smart growth idea reached maturity when local governments used the following
tools to promote a smart growth policy:
1. Zoning ordinances – Specify land use and offer incentives for following smart
growth principles
2. Environmental assessments – Require developers to project the physical and
social impact of new development
The EPA has recognized cities such as Arlington, Virginia and Davidson, North Carolina,
for their successful implementation of smart growth principles, and such cities lead the way for
continued smart growth practices.
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Works Cited
Moskowitz, Eric. "Car-free Commuting Push Pays Off in Kendall Square." The Boston Globe 25
July 2012: 13. Newspaper.
Nelson, Kevin. Essential Smart Growth Fixes. Government Study. Washington DC: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 2012. Document.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. About Smart Growth. n.d. Web. 05 March 2015.
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