Smart growth is an innovative way to boost your local economy, increase your community’s sustainability and attract and retain the creative class to your community. In addition to this, it also helps communities use land more effectively and efficiently and can reduce the amount of sprawl your community goes through as it increases in size. If smart growth is done right, it can be the foundation of economically and environmentally sustainable neighborhoods.

Businesses are attracted to smart growth neighborhoods because they include a built in customer base. All of the apartments and homes that are part of the mixed land use, as well as easy ways for people to reach their business, such as walking and biking instead of just driving. These properties command a price premium and therefore provide increase tax revenue and generally produce additional sales tax.

The mix of businesses attracted to smart growth communities, for example restaurants, cafes, shopping, and more, create vibrant neighborhoods that are desirable for people of all ages to live in. They attract baby boomers and their children who are interested in living in a neighborhood with a community feel and want to cut down on their transportation costs. They also attract the creative class, young, educated individuals who seek to live in diverse neighborhoods that are also walkable as they have lower rates of car ownership than previous generations.

If you have any underdeveloped, redeveloping, or neglected neighborhoods in your community consider using the principals of smart growth when planning this area to ensure that the new neighborhood becomes both a financial and environmental success that people enjoy living in.

Check out these resources to get started today!

• “Smart Growth and Economic Success” is an article that explains the 3 main advantages of smart growth.
• Smart growth isn’t just for cities as you can learn from “Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities.”
• “Best Development Practices: A primer for Smart Growth” is a beginner’s guide based to smart growth and how these changes can stop urban sprawl.
• “This is Smart Growth” illustrated how communities can turn their visions, values, and aspirations into reality using smart growth techniques.
• “Complete the Streets for Smart Growth” this article looks at the role in which transportation plans in smart growth planning.
• In addition to these articles check out the smart growth topic page to see all of the questions, documents, blog posts, and articles that have been posted on this topic. You can also join the smart growth and sustainability groups on the Knowledge Network so you can discuss how to make smart growth work in your community.

If your local government has successfully completed a smart growth project please upload a case study or other documentation on it! Sharing your successes on the Knowledge Network gives both positive press to your community and allows other innovative governments to follow your lead.

 Best, 

Robin Saywitz 

ICMA Knowledge Network Intern

rsaywitz@icma.org