What is Smart Growth?

When looking for a community to settle in people look for a common set of quality of life characteristics*:

• Attractive housing for both affordable and upscale markets
• Nearby shopping
• Ample recreation and entertainment
• Personal security
• Good schools
• Access to transportation, with reduced automobile dependence
• A diversified tax base

One aspect of sprawl is the large lot subdivision

The planning principle of Smart Growth is one means of realizing these qualities, through compact development that contains a mix of housing types, choice of transportation modes (such as car, bus or train), nearby shopping, services and open space. New England is blessed with traditional town or neighborhood centers that contain at least some Smart Growth. In the late 19th century, development was often dense and focused in town centers or next to water power sources for mills and factories. As a result, work, home and stores were all close together. In addition, public transportation, in the form of trolleys and trains, was more prevalent than today. The point in looking back is not to replicate the old pattern but to create an alternative vision to sprawl. Sprawl is the predominant development pattern in the U.S.

Next Page: Examples of Smart Growth

* Equitable Real Estate Management, Inc. Emerging Trends in Real Estate 1997,
Chicago: Real Estate Research Corporation, October 1996, p.28