A Smart Growth Reader

"Smart growth."

The term is everywhere, front and center, in conferences, newspaper columns, books, state legislation, local plans, and zoning ordinances. It stirs up strong emotions, pro and con, and everyone seems to have a unique take on what it means, where it came from, whether we need it, and how it is carried out. Yet there is no doubt that, however defined, it is signifying a sea change in how we plan America's communities.

As an aid to taking in this vast topic, APA has prepared this reader, drawing on articles that have appeared in APA's own publications: Planning, the PAS Memo, Zoning News, and Land Use Law & Zoning Digest.

Intended as a rich compendium of perspectives on the smart growth, the reader is grouped into seven sections:

Definitions and Critiques
Explores definitions of smart growth, identifies its critics, and assesses the prospects for more urban sprawl.

Tools
Assesses some of the more commonly used smarth growth tools.

Environment and Open Space
Covers issues surrounding the environment and open space.

Legal Issues
Issues surrounding smart growth's implementation, including the need to revamp planning and zoning enabling statutes.

Center Cities
The revitalization of central cities, including their neighborhoods.

Suburban and Regional Issues
Examines smart growth from these standpoints, and includes articles on the influence of smart growth on decisions to locate or rehabilitate educational facilities.

Small Towns and Rural Areas
Highlights the relationship of smart growth to these places.