Taking A More Holistic View Of Smart Growth

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blog.kebenfield/moving_beyond_smart_growth_to.html#.VO5xnBEJq9o.mailto

Capital Hill, Washington D.C,
Shelly Hazle Smart Growth America
switchboard.nrdc.org

Hello Everyone:

Smart growth.  According to Kaid Benfield, in his blog post for the Natural Resources Defense Council title "Moving beyond 'smart growth' to a more holistic city agenda," smart growth is the idea that

...regions must replace suburban sprawl with more compact forms of growth and development; that neighborhoods must be walkable and convenient; that automobile dependence must be replace with a system of mobility choices in which the automobile is only a part.  It is an environmental agenda first and foremost, but for those us who advocate it also believe it to be good for people.

Smart growth was a somewhat radical idea when it first came together in the nineties and there are still some corners where it has not found acceptance nor been completely implemented. Nevertheless, its supporters can take some measure of comfort in the fact that this radical idea has become more mainstream, taught in every planning schools (including blogger's alma mater), and guides urban planning near and far.  There still a long way to go in terms of full acceptance but the good news is that cities have stopped hemorrhaging, sprawl is slowing down, and big cities (such as Baltimore) are considering light rail, street cars, buses, and like or not bicycling infrastructure.  This is a good thing.

Bicycle rack
Flickr
blogs.worldbank.org

This measure of comfort has strengthened Mr. Benfield's conviction "...that smart growth and smart transportation-as important as they are to the future of out communities and our planet-are not nearly enough to produce sustainable communities."  We need to move toward social equity and justice, to places that heal and restore the damage done, places of nourishment and resilience.  Further, Mr. Benfield reports, "there have been advances in research and best practices, particularly in fields such as green infrastructure and green building, that have arisen since the smart growth agenda was formulated and that the movement has never assimilated."  This is too bad, new development that does not make full use of innovations in best practices is, well, dumb.  Thus, Mr. Benfield calls on those of us who support smart growth to take a more ambitious and holistic view about our cities, towns, and neighborhoods.  In the interest of starting a conversation, Mr. Benfield has posed ten questions that he believes every community should ask as means to identify room for improvement.

Rain Garden
Lynn Hinkle ASTRA Communications
switchboard.nrdc.org

1. Are neighborhood fully hospitable to residents with a range of incomes, ages, and abilities?

Kaid Benfield places this at the top of the list of question because this a weakness of smart growth.  Gentrification is tough subject to understand but that does not make it any less worrisome and in some ways, it is important.  As Mr. Benfield has written time and again, "If our solutions don't work for the people, they will never work for the planet."

2. Does the community respect nature, integrating natural areas and systems into regional planning and neighborhood design?

This is another weak point of smart growth.  In its zeal for for hardscape urbanism and downtown infill, the human need for living with nature has been ignored.  Integrating nature into highly urbanized communities requires due diligence in thought and execution but critical if we want cities to be living and livable ecosystems.

Glenwood Park Atlanta, Georgia
F. Kaid Benfield
huffingtonpost.com

3. Do buildings and infrastructure take advantage of resource-efficient design and management practices?

Green buildings are mainstream and green infrastructure is making inroads.  Thus, some progressive organization believe it is time to start installing "net-positive" buildings which generate more sustainable energy and water than they use with no net waste.  While contemplating this step, we should ask ourselves if "...our structures are moving in the right direction with regard to reducing resource consumption and pollution."

4. Do the community design and social structure encourage healthy living and well-being?

This is another big issue that can engender fascinating inquiries such as whether or not there is clean air and water; pedestrian access to stores, amenities, and services such as good schools, healthy food, parks; good health care, and recreational facilities.

Boca Raton, Florida
EPA Smart Growth
switchboard.nrdc.org

5. Is the overall metropolitan or community development footprint discernible and no larger than necessary?

Are there any policies that limit encroachment of new development onto rural areas?  Leapfrog development needs to be adamantly discouraged with proper policy and incentives.

6. Does the community include public spaces of beauty, character, and utility?

While "beauty" and "character" are hard to define, we need ask these questions and do our very best to define them.  Public spaces, in particular, define a place.  This can include parks, plazas, and monuments.  Blogger would like to add architecture to the list.  Of course, we should never ever forget that streets are the most plentiful, visible, and important public spaces.  Ask Jane Jacobs.  "Do they serve pedestrians well?  Is their scale pleasing and harmonious?  Are they inviting?"

Denver, Colorado area bus
Brett Van Arkken
switchboard.nrdc.org

7. Are there convenient, safe, affordable and efficient transportation choices?

Very critical Gov. Hogan and anyone else who is interested in job creation and economic development. Goes without saying safe, convenient, reliable, affordable, and attractive transportation option are absolute necessity for "complete streets," complete with accommodation for pedestrians, the disabled, and bicyclists.  Many cities are now home to ride share programs, would your community be a good candidates?

8. Does new development use land efficiently, with appropriate attention to context?

One of the characteristics of late twentieth century suburban sprawl is gross inefficient land use-both commercial and residential.  Let us not repeat this mistake.  Mr. Benfield writes, "But this question embodies a tension: at least in theory, the highest density that the market will bear on a particular site will make the most efficient use of land; but sensitivity to context may well dictate something lower." Tension is good, context is everything.  Tension can be painful, within reason, however, it is completely appropriate for a community to decide when and where a balance is struck.

Dockside Green LEED Platinum
Victoria, British Columbia, Canand
Julia Campboll
switchboard.nrdc.org

9. Does the community respect and enhance important local conditions, resources, and culture?

The thought of cities such as Dubai and Las Vegas rapidly expanding, becoming extremely water consumptive desert metropolis, baffles the brain. Conversely, it is just as difficult to understand building in floodplains, especially as sea levels rises and storms get more powerful.  Local climate conditions are determinants.  As is local culture, including historic resources; "...a great community will celebrate its cultural assets, not denigrate them."  Yes.

10. Does the community encourage collaboration in planning and development?

In theory, community collaboration in planning and development exists.  In practices, it is harder to implement.  Be that as it may, planning and development decisions stand a better chance of success when there is a feeling of communal ownership.

This list of questions regarding holistic agenda for smart growth is Kaid Benfield's thought on the subject.  By his own admission, he recognizes it as "imperfect at best."  They are good questions, thoughtful questions intended to spark and expand the subject of smart growth.  They are a start, a good start.