| |
Smart growth |
Sprawl |
| Characteristics |
|
|
| Density |
Higher-density, clustered activities
|
Lower-density, dispersed activities |
| Growth pattern |
Infill (brownfield) development |
Urban periphery (greenfield) development
|
| Land use mix |
Mixed |
Single use, segregated
|
| Scale |
Human scale; smaller buildings, blocks and roads
|
Large scale; larger buildings, blocks, and wide roads
|
| Public services (shops,
schools, parks) |
Local, distributed, smaller; accomodates walking access
|
Regional, consolidated, larger; may require automobile access
|
| Transport |
Multi-modal transportation; land use patterns that support walking, cycling and public transit
|
Automobile-oriented transportation; land use patterns less conducive to walking, cycling and transit
|
| Connectivity |
Highly connected roads, sidewalks and paths, allowing more direct travel
|
Hierarchical road network with many unconnected roads and walkways and barriers to non-motorized travel
|
| Street designs |
Streets designed to accommodate a variety of activities; traffic calming
|
Streets designed to maximize motor vehicle traffic volume and speed
|
| Public space |
Emphasis on the public realm (streetscapes, pedestrian areas, public parks)
|
Emphasis on the private realm (yards, shopping malls, gated communities)
|
| Source(s): |
Adapted from Litman, T.A., 2005, Evaluating Criticism of Smart
Growth,
www.vtpi.org/sgcritics.pdf (accessed April 3, 2006).
|
|
