Smart Growth and Transit Oriented Development

Ardmore
People love living in Southeastern PA! It's no surprise that Philadelphia's suburbs are growing. New homes, new communities, new services are sprouting up (some might say sprawling) all over the region, most without regard for access to transit, location, density, mix of uses or open space preservation. The Council's Smart Growth work helps create diverse, convenient, transit-accessible, walkable communities.
Background: 
Smart Growth is a way to develop and grow communities in ways that are convenient, environmentally friendly and diverse. What makes a community a Smart Growth community? Some elements of this type of development include:
  • Walkable neighborhoods
  • Range of housing options and prices
  • Community collaboration
  • Re-use of existing towns and villages with established services and infrastructure
  • Preserve open space, farmland, and critical environmental areas
  • Nearby access to transportation choices such as rail, bus, bike and walk
  • Mixed use of land - residences, businesses, parks, etc.

Smart Growth isn't just for smaller suburban communities. Developments in Philadelphia can also use these principles to guide growth. In an urban area like Philadelphia, the movement towards smart growth principles is often called "new urbanism" or "transit oriented development."

Project Goals: 
  • To promote sustainable land development practices that encourage growth, and preserve natural resources
Major milestones/successes to date: 
  • The Council helped launch the Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance, an initiative including private sector, government and non-profit agencies. DVGSA promotes smart growth projects by recognizing development projects prior to receiving approval. The Council's Vice President of Sustainable Communities, Patrick Starr, sits on the independent, regionally diverse jury that reviews projects quarterly. Projects are evaluated on criteria including: location; density, design and diversity of uses; transportation; environment; and community assets and participation. Recognized projects receive from a letter of endorsement and an offer of testimony before the local approval authorities from DVGSA.
  • The Council hosted Great Places with Transit, a four-part educational institute on the benefits, challenges and funding opportunities for regional transit oriented development. The institute was attended by nearly 100 regional developers, transportation planners and builders.
  • The Council facilitated the selection of a consultant to prepare concept plans for Transit Oriented Development in Marcus Hook. The plan proposes the revitalization of property near the regional rail lines and Amtrak lines into a walkable community of residences, businesses and open space.
Current/upcoming plans: 
  • PenTrans, which supports efficient, affordable, accessible transportation alternatives
  • DVRPC Land Use and Housing Committee, which provides a regional forum for housing issues, and assesses and influences shifting land use and development patterns
  • First Suburbs, which is a regional coalition of community leaders that works to stabilize and revitalize their communities
  • Eastern Montco
  • 10,000 Friends, which promotes policies and actions that revitalize cities, boroughs, older suburbs; preserve farmland and rural resource lands; conserve our natural, heritage and fiscal resources; and improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians.
  • BIA Fix it First, which recommends steps tp improve and streamline the development process to eliminate or change steps that unnecessarily add to the cost of a home or deter development
  • Congress for New Urbanism, which is a lead organization promoting walkable, neighborhood-based development as an alternative to sprawl.
  • American Society of Civil Engineers National Policy Committee
  • University of Pennsylvania Transportation Systems Engineering Alumni Club
  • Delaware Valley Green Building Council Advocacy Committee
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NN_TOD_Exec_Summary_web[1].pdf1.19 MB

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