Smart Growth

Current land use practices, zoning and development standards result in increasing sprawl, the destruction of farmland and the natural environment, excessive reliance on automobile transportation, and expensive infrastructure. Our islands become more pricey and less livable with every new development.

"Smart growth refers to land use and development practices that enhance the quality of life in communities, preserve the natural environment, and save money over time. These practices range from demand management strategies for transportation, water provisioning and energy (decreasing the demand for services before increasing the supply), to development practices that minimize environmental damage and foster vibrant communities. The aim is to limit urban sprawl, use tax dollars wisely, and save taxpayers money. Developments that conserve resources (land, infrastructure, and materials) cost less and increase property values." From Deborah Curran and May Leung, Smart Growth: A Primer, Retrieved online March 21, 2006 at http://www.smartgrowth.bc.ca/index.cfm?group_id=3470

Smart Growth BC is a provincial non-governmental organization devoted to fiscally, socially and environmentally responsible land use and development. http://www.smartgrowth.bc.ca/

West Coast Environmental Law at http://wcel.org/ has numerous resources for people interested in Smart Growth. Two of particular relevance to island communities are:

Protecting the Working Landscape - a document that sets the direction for local governments wanting to protect farmland, and reduce conflict between urban land users and farmers at http://wcel.org/wcelpub/2005/14233.pdf

Smart Bylaws Guide at http://www.wcel.org/issues/urban/sbg/

"For the last 50 years, typical development patterns in Canada on greenfield lands have resulted in the loss of farmland and natural areas, rising car dependency, traffic congestion and infrastructure costs that many municipalities lack the resources to pay for. One of the ways municipalities have sought to address these issues is through residential intensification, i.e., encouraging housing development in existing urban areas where infrastructure and transit services are already in place." CMHC documents at http://www.cmhc.ca/en/inpr/su/sucopl/sucopl_001.cfm

Smart Growth is a US-based group with a strong environmental ethic and nuanced views of growth. http://www.smartgrowth.org