Smart Growth > Sprawl

               As the earth’s population continues to grow, so does the need for housing, which stirs up new ideas and innovations.  In the United States in 1993, a specified Congress was founded for New Urbanism, a neighborhood development that embodies the traditional “suburban sprawl model,” subdivisons, shopping centers, paved roads, etc., which claims to conserve the environment.  Unfortunately this development is merging into agricultural areas, putting our natural resources and farmland at risk.  The solution to this is New Ruralism and the two movements within in it: smart growth and sustainable agriculture (Stratton).

               Smart growth is a movement in which cities are organized around small neighborhoods, instead of the sprawl of New Urbanism.  By compacting cities and neighborhoods, we can preserve and enhance the environment.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the ten basic principles of smart growth are as follows:

1. “Mix land uses”
2. “Take advantage of compact building design”
3. “Create a range of housing opportunities and choices”
4. “Create walkable neighborhoods”
5. “Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place”
6. “Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas”
7. “Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities”
8. “Provide a variety of transportation choices”
9. “Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective”
10. “Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions”

Not only are these principles, but they are simply advantages New Ruralism has over New Urbanism.  A prime and ironic example of smart growth is New York City, New York.  Although this city “generates [the most] greenhouse gases, uses [the most] energy, and produces [the most]… waste” more than any other city in America, it actually is one of the most environmentally conservative cities when how many people that live there are taken into account.  This is due to the city’s compression; because everyone and everything is so compacted together, “New Yorkers… drive, pollute, consume, and throw away much less than the surrounding suburbs” (Heitman).  Of course, New York City doesn’t pay much attention to agriculture.

Sustainable agriculture is a trend in which food is developed to encourage “environmental health and socio-economic equality” (Stratton).  According to GRACE Communications Foundation, the primary benefits of sustainable agriculture are “environmental preservation, protection of public health, sustaining vibrant communities, and upholding animal welfare.”  Forward, a new agricultural market and movement in Canada, hopes to succeed by making Canada a world leader in “agricultural, nutritional, health, energy, and environmental” issues by creating new products and solutions.  For example, in order to preserve the environment, new techniques, such as crop rotation, can be used instead of lethal chemical fertilizers.  Thus, this simply results in the protection of public and animal health, because hazardous fertilizers and pesticides are avoided and replaced with these new products and techniques. 

Thankfully there is a city that has combined smart growth and sustainable agriculture, thriving as a New Ruralistic community.  During my adolescent years, I had the pleasure of growing up in South Georgia, near Serenbe, a New Ruralistic community in South Fulton County.   Strangely, a friend of mine moved to Serenbe at the same time my mom began a job there in the winery and restaurant; I was utterly confused that you could live and work in the same place, but it wasn’t a town.  I now know it is because it was a sustainable community.  It includes pastures, farms, retail shops, homes, restaurants, its own wastewater treatment plant and much more into a small, but large enough area that it forms its own community (think Stepford but less creepy!)  Like New York City, Serenbe has walkways all throughout its 900-acres, so walking is more efficient than driving.  The most important factor of Serenbe, and why it thrives as a New Ruralistic community, is “the surrounding area is dedicated to preservation” (Stratton).

It is strange to me that New Urbanism claims to be conservative of the natural environment as it encroaches upon our already agricultural and naturally environmental areas.  With all the hype about global warming these days, you’d think New Ruralism would be the obvious choice over New Urbanism.  The two key components to New Ruralism, smart growth and sustainable agriculture, directly and positively affect the envrironment.  Serenbe, an exceptional example of New Ruralism, is thriving tremendously.  It would be a slow transition from sprawl to smart growth, but it is one that should and needs to happen.

Works Cited

GRACE Communications Foundation. "Sustainable Agriculture- The Basics GRACE Communications Foundation." Gracelinks.org. GRACE Communications Foundation, 2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.

Fixter, Kristina. "Canada’s Plant Science Industry Supports Growing Forward the Federal, Provincial, Territorial Governments’ New Vision for Agriculture." CropLife.ca. CropLife Canada, 03 July 2007. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.

Heitman, Danny. "Green Metropolis." The Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Sept. 2009. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.

 Stratton, Emily M. "New Ruralism." University of Georgia Land Use Clinic (2009): n. pag. University of Georgia School of Law and School of Ecology, Fall 2009. Web. 2 Feb. 2013.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. "About Smart Growth." Epa.gov. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 28 June 2006. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.