How and where communities grow can have as much of an impact on the environment as can hazardous waste cleanups and vehicle mileage standards. Approaches that direct development toward existing communities tend not only to be efficient public investments. They also relieve the pressure to develop in and around the open lands that filter our water, grow our food, protect our wildlife and provide recreation for our citizens.

Encouraging growth in existing communities also supports the cleanup and reuse of brownfields and other degraded areas. Compact neighborhoods make it easier for people to get around in environmentally friendly ways like walking, cycling and using transit.

In this section, we present ways in which natural resource and environmental agencies can support smarter growth outcomes by refocusing their permitting and regulatory programs, modifying funding criteria and strategically using their land development and conservation dollars.

Policies

• Adopt a green infrastructure approach to open space, habitat, and water resources
• Identify natural lands and open space for preservation
• Establish dedicated state funding for land conservation
• Help local governments set and achieve land conservation goals
• Increase funding and support for parks and urban forests
• Integrate smart growth into the State's stormwater program
• Change the criteria for water and wastewater infrastructure
• Align the state Total Maximum Daily Loads program with local plans for smart growth
• Encourage zoning code and business licensing to protect and preserve drinking water sources
• Take credit for land use changes under the State Implementation Plan
• Take advantage of flexibility in federal water and coastal funding programs
• Use smart growth and watershed planning as key features in flood prevention and management programs