Updated 06/10

Smart Growth and Sustainable Development

Introduction
General Resources on Smart Growth
General Resources on Sustainability
General Resources on New Urbanism
General Articles and Publications on Smart Growth and Sustainable Development
Washington Local Government Smart Growth and Sustainability Programs and Codes
Smart Growth and Sustainability in Other States
Smart Growth and Sustainability Information by Topic
Other MRSC Pages related to Smart Growth and Sustainable Development

Introduction

Smart growth is development that is environmentally sensitive, economically viable, community-oriented, and sustainable. It is an approach to land use planning that promotes compact, transit-oriented urban communities that are attractive and livable. Smart growth focuses on the planning and layout of communities and the efficient use of land to maximize community goals and avoid wasteful sprawl. It involves policies that integrate transportation and land use decisions by encouraging more compact, mixed-use development within existing urban areas and discouraging dispersed, automobile-dependent development at the urban fringe. Smart growth and sustainable development are often used interchangeably. Sustainable development is a strategy by which communities seek to balance environmental protection, economic development, and social objectives and to meet the needs of today without compromising the quality of life for future generations.

Smart growth principles include the following:

Mixing land uses
Employing compact building design
Creating a range of housing opportunities and choices
Creating walkable neighborhoods
Designing distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place
Preserving open space, farmland, and critical environmental areas
Directing development towards existing communities
Providing a variety of transportation choices
Making development decisions fair, predicable, and cost-effective
Encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration.

(Adapted from "About Smart Growth," Smart Growth Online)

The Washington Growth Management Act (GMA) encourages smart growth in that state law mandates that growth be directed into urban growth areas where urban services already exist. The GMA also promotes many other smart growth principles, such as affordable housing, preservation of critical areas and farmland, providing transportation choices, and predictable permit decisions; see GMA planning goals (RCW 36.70A.020).

Because smart growth is a broad subject that cuts across many different areas, this page offers links both to MRSC pages that address related topics and to resources on other sites.

General Resources on Smart Growth

Smart Growth Online - Web site of Smart Growth Network with extensive information including news and useful resources. A network to encourage metropolitan development that is environmentally, fiscally, and economically and socially smart. Includes Smart Growth Resource Library and Smart Growth Speaker Series.
Smart Growth America - Nationwide coalition promoting a better way to grow; one that protects farmland and open space, revitalizes neighborhoods, keeps housing affordable, preserves scenic and historic resources, and makes communities more livable.
Smart Growth, U.S. EPA - EPA's portal to extensive resources on smart growth and related issues
- About Smart Growth
- Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Guide, Smart Growth () Draft, March 2010 - A guide to developing and implementing greenhouse gas reduction programs
- Smart Growth Implementation Assistance (EPA)
- Smart Growth Illustrated - Examples of various smart growth principles
- Publications - Smart growth essentials and other topics
- Smart Growth Awards
Smart Growth, Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (now Department of Commerce) - Brochure, discussion papers, and links
Smart Communities Network Creating Energy Smart Communities, provided by National Center for Appropriate Technology
Bibliography: Livability, Sustainable Development and Smart Growth, 2004-2009, compiled by Rosalyn Alleman and Roger Garren, National Transportation Library (NTL)
Center for Livable Communities, Local Government Commission (CA) - National initiative of Local Government Commission in California. Developed the Ahwahnee Principles in 1991 and the Ahwahnee Water Principles for Resource Efficient Land Use in 2005. See also Ahwanee Climate Change Principles and Ahwanee Economic Development Principles
Natural Resources Defense Council, Smart Growth
Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities - Resource to assist funders and organizations interested in advancing more livable communities through smart growth policies
Futurewise (Formerly 1000 Friends of Washington) - Statewide public interest group working to promote healthy communities and cities while protecting farmland, forests and shorelines
Local Government Environmental Assistance Network Smart Growth
ULI and Smart Growth, Urban Land Institute
Smart Growth Leadership Institute
Smart Growth Resources, Transportation Research Board - Useful collection of smart growth links
ICMA Smart Growth - Links to documents and publications about Smart Growth
Smart Growth, National Trust for Historic Preservation - Includes Smart Growth Toolkit
Smart Growth, New Urbanism
Smart Growth Around America Blog
Smart Growth Reader and Smart Growth Codes, American Planning Association
SprawlWatch Clearinghouse - Makes the tools, techniques, and strategies developed to manage growth accessible to citizens, public officials, planners, and others.
Low Impact Development Center, Conservation Design, Sustainable Development and Smart Growth - List of links
National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education
Smart Growth, Center for Environmental and Regulatory Affairs, National Center for Public Policy Research
Smart City Radio - Weekly public radio talk show on cities.

General Resources on Sustainability

Sustainable Communities Network - Comprehensive site for information exchange about sustainability; includes case studies from Washington State. See also Inventories and Indicators, Sustainable Communities Network
Sustainable Washington 2009: Planning for Climate Change, Washington Chapter, American Planning Association - Award-winning resource document for planners involved in sustainability and climate change issues; emphasizes actions that planners can take to mitigate the effects of climate change and to adapt to unavoidable impacts associated with global warming
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Sustainable Development
Center for Sustainable Communities,and Sustainability topic page, ICMA
Center for Sustainable Communities, National Association of Counties - Forum for county officials to work collaboratively to develop policies and programs aimed at economic enhancement, environmental stewardship and social well being
Sustainability, U.S. EPA
Sightline Institute - An independent, not-for-profit sustainability research center based in Seattle. Sightline's mission is to promote an environmentally sound economy and way of life in the Pacific Northwest. Sightline Institute's Sustainability Page
Selected MRSC Library Holdings on Sustainable Development
"Sustainability: The Issue of Our Age and a Concern for Local Government," by Michael Willis, Public Management, August 2006
Sustainable Development Primer, Moving Sustainable Development from Theory to Practice, By Beryl Magilavy
A Review of Municipal Ordinances for Sustainable Development, Florida State University, 2006
Citizens Network for Sustainable Development
Communities Working on Sustainability Indicators, International Sustainability Indicators Network
Sustainable Cities Institute - Project of The Home Depot Foundation to support efforts in environmental stewardship initiatives and provide proactive solutions to helping create healthy “green” communities
SustainLane Government - Online sustainability best practices knowledge base for state and local government; evolved from the SustainLane US City Rankings, a benchmark study on urban sustainability originally published in June 2005
“What is Sustainable Development?” Robert W. Kates, Thomas M. Parris, and Anthony A. Leiserowitz, Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, Volume 47, Number 3, April 2005.

General Resources on New Urbanism

New urbanism (also known as traditional neighborhood development) is an approach to developing community based on traditional town patterns. New urbanism also reflects many principles of sustainable development.

CNU - Congress for the New Urbanism - Non-profit organization that works with architects, planners and developers to teach them how to implement the principles of new urbanism
New Urbanism - Organization aimed at developing livable sustainable communities
Traditional Neighborhood Development, MRSC Web page

General Articles and Publications on Smart Growth and Sustainable Development

This is Smart Growth, Smart Growth Network and International City/County Management Association (ICMA), September 2006 - Shows and explains smart growth concepts and outcomes and features good development examples from 40 places around the U.S.
Smart Growth," by C. Gregory Dale, Planners Web, Planning Commissioners Journal, Spring 2003
Smart Growth and the Greening of Comprehensive Plans and Land Use Regulations, by Patricia Salkin, Albany Law School, July 2008 (paper available for download)
Smart Growth, More Efficient Land Use Management, TDM Encyclopedia, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, 2005
"Evaluating Criticism of Smart Growth," by Todd Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, September 2009
"Public Sector Leadership: The Role of Local Government in Smart Growth," Livable Communities @ Work, The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities and International City/County Management Association (ICMA), 2005
Local Tools for Smart Growth: Practical Strategies and Techniques to Improve Our Communities, National Association of Counties, Joint Center for Sustainable Communities, Smart Growth Network - Guidebook on how to employ planning and development policy to improve quality of life and achieve smart growth goals.
"Smart Growth Reforms: Changing Planning Regulatory and Fiscal Practices to Support More Efficient Land Use," by Todd Littman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, June 2010
“Understanding Smart Growth Savings: What We Know About Public Infrastructure and Service Cost Savings, And How They are Misrepresented By Critics,” June 2010, by Todd Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute
Overcoming Obstacles to Smart Growth Through Code Reform, An Executive Summary of Smart Growth Zoning Codes: A Resource Guide, Local Government Commission (CA)
"Smart Growth: The Future of the American Metropolis?" by Bruce Katz, The Brookings Institution, November 2002. Reviews the current state of smart-growth and metropolitan thinking in the United States and identifies the key challenges involved in shaping sustainable metropolitan communities.
Smart Growth, Smart Choices (), National Association of Home Builders, 2002
Sprawl and Growth - Articles from the Planners Web for planners and other local officials concerned about the impacts of sprawl.
Creating Great Neighborhoods: Density in Your Community, U.S. EPA
Getting to Smart Growth: 100 Policies for Implementation, International City/County Management Association and Smart Growth Network, 2002 - Describes techniques for putting 10 smart growth principles into practice.
Getting to Smart Growth II: 100 More Policies for Implementation, International City/County Management Association and Smart Growth Network, 2003. This publication serves as a road map for states and communities that have recognized the need for smart growth but are unclear on how to achieve it.
Smart Growth Checklist (), A Checklist for Municipal Land Use Planning and Management, NY State Department of Transportation.

Washington Local Government Smart Growth and Sustainability Programs and Codes

Cities

Bainbridge Island, Memorandum on City Sustainability Initiative (), April 2009
Bellevue Comprehensive Plan Selected Excerpts related to Sustainability ()
Bellingham Green Resolutions and Actions
Bothell Sustainability, Bothell Cool
Covington Smart Growth
Edmonds
- Edmonds Community Sustainability Element, Comprehensive Plan
- Edmonds 2009 Sustainability Agenda
- Edmonds Resolution No. 1193 ()
Issaquah Sustainable City Indicators
Kirkland Sustainable Development
Lynnwood Energy and Sustainability Element, () Comprehensive Plan Amendments, 2009
Mercer Island's Commitment to Sustainable Practices - Includes What the City is Doing in terms of sustainable actions and policies
Mountlake Terrace Sustainability
Olympia
- Sustainability
- Olympia Comprehensive Plan, Ch. 3 - Sustainable Economy ()
- Olympia Sustainability Strategy,( ) Dec. 2006 and Sustainable Action Map - SAM
Redmond Memorandum regarding green centennial sustainability initiative (), June 2009
Seattle, Smart Growth - Links to Seattle's Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Strategic Plan and related environmental programs
Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment
Shoreline Sustainability Strategy
- Environmental Sustainability Strategy document (), adopted July 2008 (very large document)
Sustainable Snoqualmie - Includes Snoqualmie Sustainability Survey Results, University of Washington Snoqualmie Sustainability Team, April 2009
Spokane Sustainability Program
Tacoma Sustainability
University Place, Main Street Smart Growth Primer (), Economic Development Task Force
Woodinville Sustainable Development Project.

Counties

Smart Growth and Sustainability in Other States and Provinces

Smart Growth Planning Topics, Maryland - Leader in developing statewide Smart Growth program; 2010 Sustainable Communities legislation.
New Jersey Smart Growth Gateway - An online resource for local government officials and citizens with information necessary to implement smart growth strategies in their communities. Also see Smart Growth Case Studies and Ordinances
Arizona Office of Smart Growth
California Land Use Planning Information Network, Smart Growth
Smart Growth Strategy, Regional Livability Footprint Project, Final Report, Association of Bay Area Governments (CA), 2002
Coalition for Smarter Growth - Focuses on the Washington, D.C. area
Colorado Office of Smart Growth
Colorado Sprawl Action Center - Includes photo gallery
Connecticut Smart Growth
Sustainable City, San Francisco - Sustainability plan for the city of San Francisco
Idaho Smart Growth
Montana Smart Growth Coalition
New York State Smart Growth
Portland, OR Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
Wisconsin Smart Forestry for Smart Growth
Massachusetts Smart Growth/Smart Energy Toolkit
Smart Growth Vermont
Smart Growth BC - Provincial non-governmental organization devoted to fiscally, socially, and environmentally responsible land use and development.

Smart Growth and Sustainability Information by Topic

The following information is organized by specific subject areas that relate to smart growth issues.

Community Quality of Life and Smart Growth

Community Quality of Life, Smart Growth Issue Area, Smart Growth Online - Includes list of topics and access to community quality-related materials by type.

Design and Smart Growth

Smart Growth, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Communities by Design, American Institute of Architects
Design Review, MRSC Web page
Design, Smart Growth Issue Area, Smart Growth Online - Includes list of topics and access to design-related materials by type
Governors' Institute on Community Design - An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Environmental Protection Agency to support governors' leadership in good community design and innovative planning.
Green Communities and Building Design, MRSC Web page
Green Development, Smart Communities Network
Community Design and Public Spaces, Smart Growth Solutions, N.J. Smart Growth Gateway
Place Matters - Database for communities to improve community design and decisionmaking.

Economics and Smart Growth

Economic Development, MRSC Web page
Economics, Smart Growth Issue Area, Smart Growth Online Includes list of topics and access to economics-related materials by type
Workforce Development and Smart Growth, The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, 2005.

Energy and Smart Growth

Building the Case for Energy Smart Growth, by Carol Werner, Environmental and Energy Study Institute, July 2005
Energy and Smart Growth, Funders' Network for Smart Growth, 2004. Provides a brief background on current energy trends and programs, and concludes that design and location are key factors determining energy consumption in urban development
Massachusetts Smart Growth/Smart Energy Toolkit.

Environment and Smart Growth

Environment, Smart Growth Issue Area, Smart Growth Online - Includes list of topics and access to environment-related materials by type
Environmental Characteristics of Smart Growth Neighborhoods, Natural Resources Defense Council, Case Studies in Sacramento and Nashville, 2000 and 2003
Coastal and Waterfront Smart Growth, NOAA
EcoEarth Info - Environmental Sustainability Portal
Protecting Water Resources with Smart Growth, U.S. EPA, 2001
Using Smart Growth Techniques as Stormwater Best Management Practices, EPA, December 2005
Growing Toward More Efficient Water Use: Linking Development, Infrastructure, and Drinking Water Policies, EPA, Jan. 2006
Climate Change, MRSC Web page
Environment & Natural Resources, MRSC Web page
Water and Smart Growth, The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, 2004.

Housing and Smart Growth

"Affordable Housing and Smart Growth: Making the Connection," Smart Growth Network and the National Neighborhood Coalition, (2002) identifies a range of policies and approaches that help achieve both smart growth and affordable housing objectives. It includes case studies of towns, cities, and states that have benefited from linking these two interrelated goals.
Smart Growth and Affordable Housing, U.S. EPA
Best Practices in the Production of Affordable Housing, Urban Land Institute, 2005
Environmentally Sustainable Affordable Housing, ULI Community Catalyst Report No. 7, prepared by Deborah L. Myerson, Urban Land Institute, 2008 - Based on an October 2007 Forum on Community Issues
Green Buildings - Affordable Housing, Smart Communities Network - Emphasis on energy efficient affordable housing, success stories, and related articles
Growth Management, Smart Growth and Affordable Housing, Anthony Downs, Brookings Institution, May 2003 speech
Housing, Smart Growth America - Addresses issues such as range of choice in housing and affordability
Housing, Smart Growth Issue Area, Smart Growth Online - Includes list of topics, access to housing-related materials by type, and useful collection of links.
Smart Growth Policy, National Association of Home Builders
Housing, MRSC Web page - includes links to Affordable Housing Ordinances.

Land Use and Smart Growth/Sustainability

Land Preservation: An Essential Ingredient in Smart Growth, by Tom Daniels and Mark Lapping, Journal of Planning Literature, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 316-329. February 2005 (provided by Private Land Network)
Principles of Smart Growth, Mix Land Uses, Smart Growth Online
Smart Communities Network, Land Use Planning
Smart Growth Land Use Policies, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Smart Growth: Land Use, Zoning, and Growth Management, National Association of Realtors
Smart Land Use, Victoria Transport Policy Institute.

Natural Resources and Smart Growth

Agricultural Sustainability and Smart Growth: Saving Urban Influenced Farmland, The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, April 2001
Urban Forests and Smart Growth, The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, Jan. 2005.

Transportation and Smart Growth

Smart Growth and Transportation: Issues and Lessons Learned, Report of a Conference held in 2002, Transportation Research Board, 2005
"Smart Growth and the Transportation-Land Use Connection: What Does the Research Tell Us?" Susan Handy, International Regional Science Review, Vol. 28, No. 2, 146-167 (2005)
Smartgrowthplanning.org - The transportation perspective
Driving Urban Environments: Smart Growth Parking Best Practices, Maryland Governor's Office of Smart Growth. Overview of parking strategies that meet the challenges faced by projects in the context of smart growth.
Parking Spaces/Community Places: Finding the Balance Through Smart Growth Solutions, U.S. EPA, Jan. 2006
Land Use, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Center for Environmental Excellence
Coordinating Land Use and Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
I-405 Corridor Program: Implementing Smart Growth, Washington State Department of Transportation
Congestion Management, MRSC Web page
TDM Encyclopedia, Victoria Transport Policy Institute - Transportation demand management; comprehensive source of information about innovative management solutions to transportation problems
Transportation, Smart Growth America
Transportation, Smart Growth Online
Smart Growth and Transportation in Small Communities (), by Joseph Blakeman, University of Wisconsin, 2003
Smart Transportation Guidebook: Planning and Designing Highways and Streets that Support Sustainable and Livable Communities, by Daniel A. Kueper, ITE Journal, September 2008 Via BNet FindArticles
Sustainability, Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO - Transportation focus
Transportation, Smart Growth Issue Area, Smart Growth Online - Includes list of topics and access to health-related materials by type
Transportation Demand Management, MRSC Web page
Transportation Efficient Land Use, MRSC Web page.

Healthy Communities

Health, Smart Growth Issue Area, Smart Growth Online - Includes list of topics and access to health-related materials by type
Linking Smart Growth and Active Living and Health, Smart Growth Resource Library, Smart Growth Resource Network
Health and Smart Growth, The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, Feb. 2003
Building Healthy Communities, MRSC Web page.

Schools and Smart Growth

Children & Schools, Smart Growth America
Smart Growth and Schools, National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education, University of Maryland.

Other MRSC Pages related to Smart Growth

Flexible Regulatory and Non-Regulatory/Incentive Tools, MRSC Web page
Green Communities and Building Design, MRSC Web page
Infill Development: Completing the Community Fabric, MRSC Web page.

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