Smart growth principles

Mix land uses

Take advantage of compact building design

Create a range of housing opportunities and choices

Create walkable neighborhoods

Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place

Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental areas

Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities

Provide a variety of transportation choices

Make development decisions predictable, fair and cost effective

Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions

Smart growth strategies

Encourage traditional neighborhood developments

Promote compact, mixed use village centers

Revitalize urban core areas and downtowns

Develop incentives for cluster development

Improve housing opportunities and neighborhood quality

Redevelop brownfields

Preserve farmlands and support farm businesses

Establish greenbelts and blueways for open space protection

Build an intermodal pedestrian bicycle and transit network

Protect environmental quality and prevent pollution

Control commercial strip development

Improve infrastructure in urban areas and limit infrastructure expansions

Encourage sustainable design

Overhaul antiquated state and local zoning laws

Promote regional solutions to growth problems

Assist small towns in addressing unique growth problems

Source: Valley Development Council (www.valleyideas.org)