1. American Planning Association APHA Built Environment Institute
The Basics of Smart Growth and Land-Use Planning
Marya Morris, AICP
American Planning Association
APHA Built Environment Institute
Philadelphia
December 11, 2005

2. on quality of life in a community.
What is sprawl?
Sprawl is a fiscally and environmentally unsustainable development pattern that consumes farmland and open space and can have numerous negative effects
on quality of life in a community.
Penn State Cooperative Extension,
Geospatial Technology Program

3. Ten Principles of Smart Growth
1. Mix land uses
2. Take advantage of compact building design
3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices
4. Create walkable neighborhoods
5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place
6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas
7. Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities
8. Provide a variety of transportation choices
9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective
10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions

4. Elements of a Comprehensive (aka Master) Plan
Goals & objectives
Land use
Community facilities
Transportation
Housing
Parks and recreation
Historic preservation
Urban design
Economic development
Environment
Natural hazards
Implementation
Health ???
Goals and objectives, Implementation are programmatic—determine what is in the plan
Where does Smart Growth fit in the plan?

5. Five Strategic Points of Intervention
1. Visioning and goal setting
2. Rethinking planning in all contexts
3. Local implementation tools
4. Site Design and Development
5. Siting Public Facilities and Capital Spending
In our project at APA we are approaching the issue from the standpoint of:
What can planners be doing to create active communities?
What information, data, values, and ideas from the world of public health should we be re-interjecting into to the planning and development process?
We’ve devised what we are calling the 5 strategic points of intervention where planners can affect change in this area.

6. 1. Visioning and Goal Setting
OUTCOMES
All stakeholders get invited to the table
Discussion of shared values
Formation of a unified idea of the most desired future
Creation of a broad context within which goals are set and plans are developed

7. 2. Rethinking State and Local Planning
Comprehensive plans
Neighborhood plans
Redevelopment plans

8. …2. Functional Plans Functional Plans Health services
Bicycle and pedestrian
Transit
Streets and circulation
Trails
Parks
Housing
Economic development
Schools and campuses
TEA-21 spending:
Huge boom since 1990 in bike/ped/trail facilities building
So many plans, so few address the physical activity issue or health issues generally

9. 3. Implementation Tools Capital improvement programs
Streetscape improvements
Traffic calming in neighborhoods
Transportation enhancements
Financial set asides for parks and trails

10. 4. Site Design and Development
Improve the pedestrian environment
Security, lighting, visibility
Protection from traffic
Adequate accommodation
Building orientation, setback requirements
Public art
Architecture and appearance
Street trees, landscaping, open spaces
Well connected routes

11. …4. Site Design and Development
Bicycle facilities
Sidewalk requirements
Parking lot layout and design
Amenities/conveniences for active people
Encouraging signage
Usable parks, open space
Accessible stairways

12. 5. Siting and Use of Public Facilities and Capital Spending
Schools
Public spaces
Post offices
Libraries
Museums
Parks
City Hall
Such facilities can either bring life or take life away from a neighborhood or a downtown
Helps promote purposeful walking
Complex set of decisions and myriad agencies and individuals go into making these decisions,
Must be made with the recognition that they can either foster or hinder people’s ability to get around on foot or by bike.

13. 5. Siting and Use of Public Facilities and Capital Spending
Capital spending priority:
Direct public investments into areas where growth makes sense and where it supports healthy community principles
Such facilities can either bring life or take life away from a neighborhood or a downtown
Helps promote purposeful walking
Complex set of decisions and myriad agencies and individuals go into making these decisions,
Must be made with the recognition that they can either foster or hinder people’s ability to get around on foot or by bike.

14. American Planning Association
Thank You!
Marya Morris, AICP
American Planning Association