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How do new urbanism and smart growth try to reduce urban sprawl?
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urban planning
Georges-Eugène Haussmann's modernization plan transformed many areas of Paris through the addition of wider boulevards, better lighting and water sanitation, new parks, and improved rail transportation.
New Urbanism and smart growth are strategies designed to mitigate the environmental and economic costs of urban sprawl by promoting more sustainable development patterns. While they share similar goals, they differ in focus: smart growth acts as a management strategy to direct urban expansion, whereas New Urbanism emphasizes the physical design of communities to foster livable, walkable environments.12
These movements attempt to reduce sprawl through several key approaches:
- Compact Development: Both strategies encourage higher-density construction and the use of energy-efficient buildings to minimize land consumption.13
- Mixed-Use Planning: By integrating housing, workplaces, and retail into the same proximity, these designs reduce the need for long commutes and reliance on private automobiles.2
- Transit-Oriented Design: Development is often centered around mass transit nodes or "transit villages," which prioritize public transportation and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure over car-centric layouts.123
- Growth Management: Smart growth utilizes tools like urban growth boundaries to separate urban areas from open space and agricultural land, effectively containing new construction within designated zones.1
These initiatives aim to create distinctive, inclusive communities that preserve environmental resources while supporting economic vitality.1