Smart
Growth and
Sustainable Development
The
Neighborhood Network believes that continued growth on Long Island
- and indeed in suburban regions throughout the country - must
be balanced by measures that maintain the quality of life for
citizens living there. Smart Growth focuses both on the process
followed to improve new developments (utilizing visioning exercises
where the entire community works with environmental, business,
and government interests to collaboratively develop proposals)
and the substantive results (which must advance environmental
protection and appropriate development.)
The
principals of smart growth include revitalizing downtowns and
neighborhoods, and creating a "sense of place", by encouraging
a feeling of safety and security, and promoting suitable economic
activity in commercial districts. Smart growth planners seek to
encourage transit-friendly development by designing a mix of rental
housing, retail, and office space that is accessible to transit
in pedestrian friendly, walkable communities.
The
2005 Smart Growth Awards will be presented on
June 17th. Vision Long
Island will honor individuals, organizations and projects
embracing principles of Smart Growth, and leaders working to bring
those principles together into complete communities.
For more information,
visit the Vision Long
Island website.
Middle Country
Road Renaissance Project
The Neighborhood
Network is a project partner with the Town of Brookhaven, the Longwood
Alliance, and other community groups on the Middle
Country Road Renaissance Project. This is an effort to promote
sustainable, community-friendly development along the Middle Country
Road corridor in Coram and Middle Island.
Suffolk
Smart Growth Policy Plan.
In
October of 2000, Suffolk County adopted a Smart Growth Policy
Plan designed to promote smart growth principals through the many
departments and agencies operating in the County. This link will
lead you to Suffolk County's web page, where you can download
this document.
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