Any small cities devoted to smart growth? (metro, largest, suburbs)

[FaceInTheCrowd]

Thanks.
Lived in a dozen sprawling suburbs, and hate it.
We all know the reasons why.

Mainly, for me, because I enjoy getting out and walking places.
But, after reading 'Green City' I'm wondering if there are cities w/
a population under ...say...300k? 150? that has enough income
to be independant and ask new businesses to shell out a little
extra and plan according to the will of the community.


Anyways, any small-ish cities that have a REAL smart growth plan?

Thanks.

[calvinbama]

Obviously the perfect example is Seaside, FL but I can also think of Fairhope, AL. They are both tourist based towns with quaintness as their biggest draw. I think it would be very hard to find a normal small city with smart growth though. It would probably be an upscale, newly built exurban town (go figure).

[pandorafan5687]

Lake Charles,LA has a policy called the "smart code" Just right now the area is experiencing a much growing pains.

[Katarina Witt]

Boulder, CO claims to be in favor of "smart growth", or rather, actually of "slow growth". Their slow-growth inititatives have worked to send the growth out to the smaller cities in Boulder County, e.g. Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, etc.

Back before the recession, there was crazy talk of limiting jobs in Boulder. Some dipstick even wrote a letter to the editor saying what we really needed was a good recession. You don't hear such nonsense nowadays.

[Phyxius]

Arlington, VA. Most of the developments is near transit stops.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by Phyxius

Arlington, VA. Most of the developments is near transit stops.

Not exactly what I think of when I think small city.

[Phyxius]

Originally Posted by HandsUpThumbsDown

Not exactly what I think of when I think small city.

The population is under 300,000 and slightly above 150,000 with an area of 26 square miles. It fits under what the OP was looking for.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by FaceInTheCrowd

Thanks.
Lived in a dozen sprawling suburbs, and hate it.
We all know the reasons why.

Mainly, for me, because I enjoy getting out and walking places.
But, after reading 'Green City' I'm wondering if there are cities w/
a population under ...say...300k? 150? that has enough income
to be independant and ask new businesses to shell out a little
extra and plan according to the will of the community.


Anyways, any small-ish cities that have a REAL smart growth plan?

Thanks.

I took that to mean not linked to a giant metro area.

[Phyxius]

Originally Posted by HandsUpThumbsDown

I took that to mean not linked to a giant metro area.

OP never specify whether this city had to be a part of a metro region. Arlington is independent.

[cab591]

I think Lexington, KY is a good example. The city itself is about 300,000 people. The "metro" area is around a half million, and includes a handful of satellite cities (each around 20-50k). Lexington's growth is a bit odd. Back in the 70's, the city and county government merged, creating the "Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government" (Shortened to LFUCG -- what a handful!).

Because the governments are merged, the city of Lexington cannot expand past the county boarders. Counties in Kentucky are much smaller than in other states, and Fayette County is no exception -- only 285.5 square miles. Growth is also impeded by the horse farms in the surrounding area. Land is expensive, and the farm owners aren't going to sell them any time soon.

The city, within recent years, has reached the county line in every direction, so developers are looking into infill projects in the future. Lexington, being the second largest city in Kentucky, is easily considered "independent". It's a college town at heart, centered around the University of Kentucky, which sits near the middle of town (the University is also one of the single-largest employers in the city).

So, I wouldn't say Lexington is "devoted" to smart growth, but is more along the lines of "forced to".