Smart growth 101
Sustainable Development
Why Is Center-based Growth and Sustainable Development Crucial for the Future of Communities?
Sustainable development doesn’t happen in isolation. Issues like environment, health, and quality of life impact entire regions. A smart growth strategy helps create a more livable, sustainable, and thriving community.
Understanding Smart Growth
Smart growth represents a balanced approach to development that serves the environment, economy, and community equally. It focuses on concentrating development in existing communities while addressing crucial connections between environmental protection, social equity, public health, and economic sustainability.
Smart Growth in Your Town
Smart growth transforms communities by promoting distinctive, attractive places with strong identities. Communities benefit from preserved open spaces, strengthened existing neighborhoods, varied transportation options, and fair development decisions. Decision-makers can use tools to evaluate development proposals and engage residents to ensure plans reflect community needs and values.
Smart Growth Metrics
Smart growth follows three key criteria. These criteria include activity density, existing centers or downtowns, and street network connectivity. Through quantifying these metrics, communities can identify the characteristics of smart growth that exist or can be improved during planning.
Smart Growth Media
Through various media channels, smart growth initiatives share success stories, best practices, and educational resources. Communities learn from each other’s experiences, challenges, and solutions, creating a collaborative approach to sustainable development.
Smart Growth Awards
Since 2002, New Jersey Future has honored smart planning and redevelopment in New Jersey through the Smart Growth Awards. The projects and plans represent some of the best examples of sustainable growth and redevelopment in the state.
