Smart Growth Overview

The Issue

The remarkable expansion of the U.S. Economy through the 1990's and the creation of millions of new jobs have fueled a growth spurt in many cities and suburbs. Federal, state and local policies on transportation, environment and taxes have also affected the patterns of growth. In some communities, however, an unwanted side effect has been scattered growth patterns.

NAIOP Position

There are no easy answers or quick fixes for the complex issues that encompass the concept of smart growth. However, NAIOP is ready to act as a resource for citizens, businesses and governmental bodies that want to forge solutions built on objective information and sound development principles.

NAIOP believes that growth is essential to economic vitality, and that Americans have a legal right to choose where to live and work. As a result, we view smart growth as a dynamic, on-going process that anticipates and accommodates development needs in response to market demand. We support smart growth efforts that balance growth and development with natural resource preservation; promote higher densities around transportation hubs; support the revitalization of inner cities and older suburbs through policies that encourage infill development and redevelopment of brownfields sites; allow for concentrations of density outside the urban core that provide job centers with residential, commercial, industrial and mixed uses; and provide for the funding of future infrastructure through policies that fairly assess the cost of new infrastructure between the public sector and private sector.

Talking Points

The following is a list of NAIOP's core smart growth principles. Ideal smart growth:

• Recognizes that growth is essential to economic vitality.
• Acknowledges Americans' legal right to choose where to live and work.
• Is a dynamic, on-going planning process that anticipates and accommodates development needs in response to market demand.
• Promotes higher densities around transportation hubs.
• Supports the revitalization of inner cities and older suburbs through policies that encourage infill development and redevelopment of brownfields sites.
• Allows for concentrations of density outside the urban core that provide job centers with residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed uses.
• Provides for the funding of future infrastructure through policies that fairly assess the cost of new infrastructure between the public sector and the private sector.

Resources

• To view current legislative activity in your state click here to be directed to NAIOP's state legislative monitoring service.
• Growth Management Techniques
• NAIOP Research
• Smart Growth Links
• The American Planning Association
• Center for Livable Communities
• Department of Energy
• Smart Growth: What Works, What Doesn't, Innovations, and Trends (PDF) – Lee Sobel of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency discussed the direction of Smart Growth in this presentation to NAIOP's Industry Trends Task Force.
• Smart Growth Network
• Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse

Contact:
Toby Burke
Senior Director for State and Local Affairs
(703) 904-7100 ext. 116