At its core, Smart Growth is smart, sustainable land
use planning. And local land use planning has a profound
impact on our communities, our state and our entire planet.
Smart Growth planning, for example, can help reverse climate
change; compact, walkable/bikable communities with access
to transit reduce automobile travel and thus reduce transportation-based
greenhouse gas emissions. Good planning also enhances
community quality-of-life, which has become a major factor
for businesses and young talent workers in deciding where
to locate. And researchers have found that community
design can determine the level of physical and social activity
in a community, which affects both our physical and mental
health.
Municipal planning is no longer just a technical matter;
it’s a tool for economic and environmental sustainability. |
