Policy
Chapter 23 of the New Urbanism Best Practices Guide
Abstract: In some places, new urbanists have been able to build compact, walkable, mixed-use developments without government policies encouraging or mandating this form of growth. But often New Urbanism stands a better chance of being implemented when governments set the stage. This chapter focuses on “smart growth” policies.
The aims of smart growth, as defined by the Smart Growth Network, are these: 1) Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities. 2) Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas. 3) Build compact communities. 4) Build walkable neighborhoods. 5) Mix land uses. 6) Provide a variety of transportation choices. 7) Create housing opportunities and choices. 8) Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place. 9) Encourage citizen and stakeholder participation in development decisions. 10) Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost-effective.
This chapter tells of recent progress and remaining challenges. More than 100 form-based codes have been adopted; thousands more communities need to follow suit. States could follow the example of Wisconsin and require municipalities to adopt ordinances with smart growth principles. Federal transportation reform could shift some of American’s travel from automobiles to other modes of mobility, and link transportation to land use. Summarized here are initiatives in several states: a California greenhouse bas bill, Maryland’s smart growth efforts since 1997, New Jersey’s expansion of rail transit and encouragement of transit-oriented development; the Louisiana Speaks program; Wisconsin’s endorsement of TND codes; Oregon’s urban growth boundaries, and Utah’s “Quality Growth Scenario.” An important role belongs to municipal administrators, as illustrated by cities such as Ventura and Hercules, California, and Boulder, Colorado. Chattanooga and Nashville, Tennessee, have shown how design centers, either in or outside of government, can help.
