Smart Growth
Posted by benarmstrong on 4/24/2009 11:27:01 AM.
This policy was first proposed by Smart Growth Network, Sam Schiller.
Level of Government: Local
Status: Developing

Abstract
Background:
The most recent environmental policy debate has focused on promoting new energy technologies and innovative building techniques.  The Smart Growth Plan stresses the urgency of environmental decay in proposing a new model of community formation.  It argues that America will only be able to seriously address the environmental issues that it faces once its citizens begin to organize themselves more sustainably.
Purpose:
The Smart Growth policy seeks to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation by: 1) limiting suburban sprawl, 2)cutting the need for automobile transportation, and 3)limiting new housing developments.
Plans:
Smart Growth promotes environmental reform through a set of broader principles and initiatives.  The policy sets forth ideals that communities can apply to their unique circumstances.  

Smart Growth focuses on developing communities that are more densely-populated and “walkable.”  The policy supports:
-reforming building codes so that they are open to multi-purpose use.  The goal is to develop communities that host residents and jobs in close proximity.  The US will begin to reduce its transportation emissions only when American workers’ commutes to the office are reduced in space and time.
-providing governmental support for new sidewalk construction and public safety support for walking and biking.
-funding new and improved public transit system that allow for a reliable mode of transportation beyond walking distances.
-incentivizing development within 1500ft. blocks in order to increase population density.
-protect open areas and parks from development.

 
Resources:
The resources necessary to implement this plan are unclear, but are likely to include revenues from carbon, congestion and other taxes and tolls.  Any final policy will require the support of community groups and developers.  A cap-and-trade system, if implemented, should also provide a source of revenue for further innovation.  In the end, however, measures like increasing the flexibility of building codes can be introduced without a specific pricetag.

Policy Details
Though the policy does not focus on the specifics or feasibility of a cap-and-trade system, it does propose cap-and-trade as promising reform possibility.
Related Links
Smart Growth Network's Local Policies: The Smart Growth Network published a list of its ten guiding principles and the one hundred policy changes associated with them. This document offers a solid foundational understanding of the Network's mission and goals.
The Environmental Protection Agency's Support for Smart Growth: The EPA, affiliated with the Smart Growth Network, directs a grant program to facilitate the implementation of Smart Growth principles.

Related Articles on Pi
Smart Growth Memo, by Sam Schiller : by benarmstrong on 4/25/2009 9:22:17 AM
Abstract:
The threat of climate change demands the efficient use of resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Inexpensive policies that do not require costly technological innovation should be the starting point for addressing environmental sustainability. Current development trends and government policies tend to favor sprawling suburban areas that use land and resources inefficiently.  Suburban developments rely on the prevalence cheap fuel and automobile usage. Suburban developments encroach on pristine areas that are essential to maintaining biodiversity and carbon sinks.  The expansion of suburban sprawl has the possibility of outshining many of the gains of other policies aimed at reducing GHG emissions. High-density or smart growth developments, on the other hand, reverse the consumption of virgin land and use resources more efficiently.
 
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Re-imagining Community Colleges (CAP) in Education by Center for American Progress



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The following policies address similar issues:
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 proposed by The United States Congress
The New Energy for America Plan (The Obama Plan) proposed by Barack Obama for President
Green Recovery Program proposed by Center for American Progress
California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 proposed by California State Assembly and the State Air Resources Board
EU Climate and Energy Plan proposed by European Union
Smart Growth proposed by Smart Growth Network, Sam Schiller
The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (Waxman-Markey) proposed by Rep. Henry Waxman, Rep. Ed Markey