About Smart Growth

from Wikipedia

Smart growth is a concept and term used by those who seek to identify a set of policies governing transportation and land use planning policy for urban areas that benefits communities and preserves the natural environment. Smart growth advocates land use patterns that are compact, transit-oriented, walkable, bicycle-friendly, and include mixed-use development with a range of housing choices. This philosophy keeps density concentrated in the center of a town or city, combating urban sprawl.

Proponents of smart growth advocate comprehensive planning to guide, design, develop, revitalize and build communities that: have a unique sense of community and place; preserve and enhance natural and cultural resources; equitably distribute the costs and benefits of development; expand the range of transportation, employment and housing choices; value long-range, regional considerations of sustainability over a short term focus; and promote public health and healthy communities.

To learn more about Smart Growth Principles....

Suggested reading

Peter Katz’s

The New Urbansim: Toward an Architecture of Community

– this is a number of community case studies, mostly new construction, with interesting details.

Anything by Peter Calthorpe

– an architect who has done some great projects and written about the ideas well.  The leader of the Transit Oriented Development.