Smart Growth Areas Act

Contents

Smart Growth Areas Act is a legislative framework enacted by multiple state legislatures and parliaments to direct development toward designated urban renewal zones, transit corridors, and brownfield sites. The Act aligns land-use planning with transportation investments, aiming to coordinate agencies such as the Department of Transportation (United States), Environmental Protection Agency, and regional planning bodies like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) and Transport for London. It has been debated in forums including the American Planning Association, the Royal Town Planning Institute, and sessions of the United Nations General Assembly.

Background and Legislative History

Originating in policy debates among actors in urban planning, the Act draws on precedents such as the Urban Growth Boundary (Portland, Oregon), the Fair Housing Act, and incentives similar to those in the New Markets Tax Credit program. Early pilots referenced projects championed by figures linked to the Obama administration and consulted with institutions like the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Cities Alliance. Legislative drafting traced influences from statutes debated in the California State Legislature, the New York State Assembly, and the UK Parliament after reports by the National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society. Advocacy coalitions included non-governmental organizations such as the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, and the Brookings Institution while business interests like the National Association of Realtors and the Chamber of Commerce offered counterproposals.

The Act’s principal objectives mirror recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled through concentrated development near nodes like Union Station (Washington, D.C.), Grand Central Terminal, and King's Cross railway station. Key provisions often include zoning reform inspired by models such as Euclidean zoning reform, incentives similar to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and land banking mechanisms used by agencies like the Land Trust Alliance. Fiscal tools reference mechanisms related to the Tax Increment Financing model and partnerships with institutions like the Federal Transit Administration and the European Investment Bank. The Act typically integrates environmental assessments akin to those required under the National Environmental Policy Act or Environmental Impact Assessment (EU) directives.

Implementation regimes coordinate municipal authorities like the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, regional agencies such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (San Francisco Bay Area), and national ministries exemplified by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (UK). Governance arrangements often create oversight bodies similar to the Metropolitan Planning Organization model and employ tools used by the Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Authority. Public–private partnerships have been brokered with entities like Enterprise Community Partners, Skanska, and Lendlease. Funding streams involve capital from banks such as Goldman Sachs and multilateral lenders including the Asian Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Evaluations of outcomes reference empirical studies comparing metrics used by the American Institute of Architects, the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and academic centers such as the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning. Reported impacts include increased transit ridership at stations like 34th Street–Hudson Yards (IRT) and reduced sprawl in regions such as the Greater Boston metropolitan area and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Economic effects mirror analyses by the International Monetary Fund and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, noting shifts in property values near transit hubs such as Canary Wharf and Battery Park City. Environmental outcomes reference air quality improvements documented by the World Health Organization and emission inventories compiled by the European Environment Agency.

Controversies have arisen involving affordable housing disputes litigated in courts including the United States Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, and administrative appeals made to bodies like the European Court of Human Rights. Legal challenges often invoke statutes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and doctrines established in cases like Kelo v. City of New London regarding eminent domain and privatization of development gains. Opposition from coalitions that include the National Rifle Association in certain contexts and municipal associations such as the National League of Cities has shaped amendment battles in legislatures like the Texas Legislature and the Florida Legislature.

Comparative analyses contrast the Act’s implementations with international models: the compact-city policies of Copenhagen, transit-oriented development in Tokyo, and regeneration schemes in Bilbao inspired by projects like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. International organizations including the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and the World Resources Institute have produced guidance aligning with the Act’s aims. Cross-jurisdictional learning has occurred between entities like the Greater London Authority, the New York City Department of City Planning, and metropolitan partnerships such as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Category:Land use planning Category:Urban design Category:Public policy