Smart Growth

Smart Growth is a holistic approach to community planning and development. 10 Smart Growth Principles have been established based on the findings of the Smart Growth Network, a network of non-governmental organizations. After identifying best practices, policies, and strategies and looking at experiences of communities around the country, the Smart Growth Network developed these principles to help communities get the results they want from growth and development:

  • Create a Range of Housing Opportunities and Choices
  • Create Walkable Communities
  • Encourage Community and Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Foster Distinctive, Attractive Communities With a Strong Sense of Place
  • Make Development Decisions Predictable, Fair, and Cost Effective
  • Mix Land Uses
  • Preserve Open Space, Farmland, Natural Beauty, and Critical Environmental Areas
  • Provide a Variety of Transportation Options
  • Strengthen and Direct Development Toward Existing Communities
  • Take Advantage of Compact Design
A Healthy Design for Madison County Primer for Smart Growth cover

A Healthy Design for Madison County: Primer for Smart Growth (PDF) was completed by the Community Economic Development (CED) committee in September 2011 and is a response to local government requests for more guidance to better understand and implement the concepts of Smart Growth.

The Primer applies specifically to Madison County and identifies current trends and establishes 4 goals, each with strategies, tools and local examples. The Primer represents a "springboard" for Madison County to move the ideas for Smart Growth forward and is intended to be an educational resource for municipalities and local officials.

This Smart Growth self-assessment tool (PDF) is specifically designed for rural communities and is intended to help local governments evaluate how well their policies and regulations support the type of development they want and identify strategies for improvement.

Each section includes a series of questions about the community's policies, codes, and strategies that might help the community achieve its long-term objectives. Following the questions are strategies, grouped according to whether they apply to larger towns or more rural areas, which support the overall goal.

The tool also helps users prioritize strategies to pursue. It includes links to case studies, sample code language, and other resources. This tool was developed for Madison County as part of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Smart Growth Technical Assistance Program.

Smart Growth Self Assessment Tool for Rural Communities cover