Pardon us, our website is still in beta

We're still constantly working to improve this website. We'd like to hear from you.

Please send us email, contact us, or leave your comments.

(Only the website is in beta. The tools are in  their final release versions)
 

About this site

This is your online resource for the Smart Growth Implementation Toolkit.

Smart Growth Leadership Institute, through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), developed the tools to help communities untangle the thicket of policies and procedures that get in the way of implementing smart growth strategies.

Many communities are envisioning an alternative future. They want to rebuild their existing neighborhoods and downtowns and design new ones to better respond to the needs and preferences of their citizens. They understand that communities that choose to grow smarter are also improving their ability to compete in the global marketplace for investments and talent.

While the challenge of building healthier and safer communities has not changed, the opportunities to move away from previous unsustainable patterns have increased. These opportunities are driven by dramatic demographic changes and shifting lifestyle preferences in our population and by a growing understanding of our shared responsibility for the future of our planet. At the same time, the prospect of ever lengthening commutes and rising gas prices is leading growing numbers of people to seek locations where they are not completely automobile-dependent. More and more people prefer neighborhoods where they can improve their health by choosing to walk or bike to the grocery store or shrink their “carbon footprint” (reduce their greenhouse gas emissions) by taking public transit to work or to school. They want to live where they can still be active citizens as they age and where their children and grandchildren can enjoy daily healthy physical activity. 

The tools in the Smart Growth Implementation Toolkit can help community leaders take the first step of removing the regulatory obstacles to smarter growth. The tools can help your community level the playing field to encourage development that meets your community’s goals and your citizens' aspirations.

We'd like to thank the people who helped us to develop these tools.