Smart Growth History

The term "Smart Growth" was coined by former Maryland Governor Parris Glendenning during his first gubernatorial campaign. He used the phrase to denote a smarter, more sustainable alternative to the sprawling development taking place in his state.

Governor Glendenning subsequently secured passage of the first comprehensive state Smart Growth law in 1997. The Maryland law became the prototype for state Smart Growth reforms, incorporating many of the land use principles that define the Smart Growth movement today – targeted growth in areas with existing infrastructure; compact, mixed-use design; pedestrian-, bicycle- and transit-friendly neighborhoods; smart, accessible public spaces; and open space preservation, among others.

The landmark Maryland legislation spawned a wave of similar Smart Growth initiatives in other states, such as Massachusetts, New Jersey and Georgia. And now, Smart Growth is moving forward in New York State under Governor Paterson’s leadership.

The Governor's Smart Growth Cabinet was created by Executive Order in December 2007. The Cabinet consists of representatives from several state agencies that affect growth, development and land use. The Cabinet is Co-Chaired by the Governor’s Deputy Secretary for the Environment and Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Infrastructure. Cabinet members are pooling their resources and expertise to promote better land use practices on the state and local level.

The Executive Order directs the Cabinet to achieve two important goals: 1) to ensure that state agency practices conform to Smart Growth principles; and 2) to develop a set of state policy initiatives that will help communities achieve Smart Growth on the local level.

The Cabinet defines Smart Growth as follows:

Smart Growth is sensible, planned, efficient growth that integrates economic development and job creation with community quality-of-life by preserving and enhancing the built and natural environments. Smart Growth encourages growth in developed areas with existing infrastructure to sustain it, particularly municipal centers, downtowns (“Main Streets”), urban cores, historic districts and older first-tier suburbs.

Some of the specific Smart Growth tools used to carry out these goals on the local level include: mixed land uses; compact, conservation-oriented development; strategic farmland and open space preservation; historic preservation; brownfield clean-up and re-development; vacant property re-use; regional and inter-municipal land use and transportation planning; revitalization of existing developed areas; “green” buildings and infrastructure; varied transportation and mobility choices, including walking, biking and public transit; age-, income- and ethnically- integrated communities; targeted investments in affordable housing; transit-oriented development; collaborative, public, inclusive and stakeholder-driven planning processes; transfer of development rights; accessible and well-planned public spaces; and well-maintained parks.

Governor Paterson also created the position of Director of Smart Growth at the Department of State (DOS). DOS was asked to coordinate the Cabinet’s activities because DOS has developed long-standing relationships with local governments all across New York State on land use matters through our education, technical assistance and grant programs.

DOS treats Smart Growth as a bottom-up, stakeholder-driven process that respects the localities' right of “Home Rule” on land use decisions. Smart Growth is not a one-size-fits-all proposition that is mandated from above; rather, it is a general paradigm for land use, planning and development that must be adapted to the specific growth challenges and opportunities in each unique region of the state. In keeping with that philosophy, Smart Growth reforms focus on incentives, program enhancements and priority assistance for those communities willing to engage in Smart Growth.

Finally, Smart Growth bolsters and complements the state’s overall sustainability agenda. By concentrating growth in targeted areas, for example, Smart Growth uses land for development more efficiently, and thus helps preserve open space, natural resources and ecosystems. By promoting walkable, bikable and transit-friendly communities, Smart Growth reduces dependence on automobile travel, which decreases fuel consumption, traffic congestion and transportation-based greenhouse gas emissions. Smart Growth also creates community quality-of-life, which is becoming a major consideration for businesses and young talent workers in deciding where to locate. And research is showing that compact, mixed-use communities actually use energy more efficiently.

In short, Smart Growth promotes economic, environmental and energy sustainability.