Talking Smart Growth around the web
Now, back to Smart Growth
Kevin Kronk, Community Voice, Daytona, Florida
Mr. Kronk counters opponents of suburban development by noting how important growth is for the local economy. If growth were halted or severely checked, the economic infrastructure of the region would collapse. “Healthy growth is not a bad thing,” he points out. “The problem is the lack of planning for growth.”
Smart Growth in Somerville
William C. Shelton, The Somerville News, Somerville, Massachusetts
A hot discussion between businessmen and residents follows Shelton’s piece advocating smart growth. He examines the 20th century’s shift to suburban rather than urban development from the Somerville perspective, citing the Somerville of his forefathers as a prime example of smart growth principles.
Smart Growth is Not Green
Peter Cresswell, Not PC
Cresswell asserts that smart growth is, quite simply, not the solution its proponents believe it to be. He quotes another article which states that the amount of land consumed by urban sprawl is a small percentage of the land mass required to support human habitation, and consequently the form of the urban environment is irrelevant to sustainability. Furthermore, he deplores the segregation of rural and urban areas that high-density plans encourage, arguing that smart growth only drives up prices, destroys the growth of the economy, and adds to air pollution.
What the Roy/Brewer Run-Off Teaches Us About Alexandria
Lamar White, Jr., CenLamar, Alexandria, Lousiana
The recent election has inspired the author to contemplate the implications of the public’s choice, just as this local example is resonates with a nationwide situation. Alexandria, says Mr. White, is a prime example of suburban sprawl, as the town has tripled in size while the population remains constant—a problem that could be partially solved by annexing the surrounding neighborhoods that currently remain outside of the city’s zoning laws and tax liability.
Dense Thinkers
Randal O’Toole, Corruption in Surfside Florida?
Though currently teaching economics at Yale University, Randal O’Toole’s roots in Oak Grove, Oregon, have led him to ponder smart growth through the model of Portland, Oregon. In his comprehensive, articulate article, he systematically lays out the problems he foresees for Portland’s current smart growth plan. His detailed, precise predictions for the failure of smart growth and new urbanism have heated up a discussion that is nearly as exhaustive.