Smart growth is a movement among communities to coordinate land use and transportation planning in order to create more livable, walkable, healthy places to live. Conventional development patterns often create sprawl – paving over undeveloped lands at low densities and creating a dependence on private automobiles to carry out daily tasks.

 

The long-term, regional considerations of the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) and the principles of smart growth can help us to overcome the traffic congestion and loss of sense of community associated with conventional development patterns.  Rather than sprawling outward, new growth can enrich existing communities.  Smart growth strengthens neighborhoods by mixing commercial and residential uses, and provides more transportation choices by balancing the needs of pedestrians and bicycles with those of automobiles.

 

The GMA is a regulatory framework in which smart growth can, and does, thrive.  Many smart growth principles match growth management goals.  Others can enhance comprehensive planning and help in crafting development regulations that achieve the goals of the GMA.  The ten classic principles of smart growth (from smartgrowth.org) are generally supported by and consistent with GMA goals.

 

 

From smartgrowth.org

 

Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions.

Citizen involvement in the planning process is a cornerstone of the GMA, and is encouraged under the GMA’s goal 11. 

           

The primary tool of the GMA is the urban growth boundary, which is used to achieve goal one of the GMA – to focus urban growth in urban areas with adequate public facilities.  Compact and cohesive growth reduces sprawl, which is goal two of the GMA.

 

 Provide a variety of transportation choices.

Multimodal transportation is encouraged under GMA goal three.  Bicycle, pedestrian, mass transit and automobile needs should be considered jointly.

 

Mixed land uses are not required under the GMA.  Many of the act’s goals, however, are being achieved through mixing land uses, which provides a variety of commercial and residential choices within walking distance of one another.

 

Goals eight, nine, and ten correspond with this principle.  Maintaining and enhancing natural-resource-based industries is encouraged under goal eight, while goals nine and ten speak to our desire for a high quality of life full of recreation options and a healthy and protected natural environment.

 

New growth should supply quality housing for people at all income levels.  Goal four of the GMA encourages a variety of residential densities and housing types, affordable housing, and the preservation of existing housing stock.

 

The preservation of historically or archaeologically significant lands, sites, and structures is encouraged under goal 13 of the GMA.  Though the GMA does not specifically require communities to consider attractive form or a sense of place, many Washington communities are adopting design standards to help maintain community character as new development occurs.

 

Goal three of the GMA encourages efficient multimodal transportation that balances the needs of pedestrians, automobiles, and other modes of transportation.  Goals one and two of the GMA encourage higher density development, which is a necessary component of a walkable neighborhood.

 

Compact building design is a tool to achieve concentrated urban growth, which ultimately reduces sprawl; this is encouraged under goals one and two of the GMA.  Allowing buildings to grow upwards rather than outwards and including structured rather than surface parking provides the building density needed to support a public transportation network and shops and other services.

 

Those in the development industries are integral partners in smart growth.  The GMA recognizes their important role and goal seven states that applications for both state and local government permits should be processed in a timely and fair manner to ensure predictability and affordability. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Growth Management Act in Washington state carries outs smart growth principles.  The resources available on CTED’s Web site can be used to support and promote the principles of smart growth. Several other sites in Washington also provide information smart growth:

 

Introduction, information, and further resources concerning smart growth.

 

The Puget Sound Action Team was created by the legislature in 1996 to define, coordinate, and implement Washington State’s environmental agenda for Puget Sound. The team encourages smart growth to enhance the environmental health of our region.

 

WSDOT’s Community Design and Resource Center

 

Washington State Department of Health In partnership with WSDOT and CTED, DOH’s Active Community Environments program works with local active living task forces to pursue policy and facility changes that promote physical activity.

 

 

 

A network of more than 80 organizations with resources and tools.

 

Smart Growth Online is a Web-based catalogue of smart growth related news, events, information, and resources developed and funded through a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Sustainable Communities Network.

 

The EPA offers research, tools, partnerships, case studies, grants, and technical assistance to help America’s communities implement smart growth.

 

Visual examples of smart growth techniques as they have been used in different places.

 

The Local Government Commission is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization that provides inspiration, technical assistance, and networking to local elected officials and other dedicated community leaders who are working to create healthy, walkable, and resource-efficient communities.

 

Photo Credits

 

King County

Rita R. Robison