Smart growth recognizes connections between development and quality of life. It leverages new growth to improve the community.

The features that distinguish smart growth in a community vary from place to place. In general, smart growth invests time, attention, and resources in restoring community and vitality to center cities and older suburbs. New smart growth is more town-centered, is transit and pedestrian oriented, and has a greater mix of housing, commercial and retail uses. It also preserves open space and many other environmental amenities.

This selection of quotations is drawn from the Smart Growth weekly e-news summaries.