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April 7, 2005
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April 7, 2005 |
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A primer in smart growth Smart growth standards are based on preserving a community’s distinct character, preserving open space, building neighborhoods that are pedestrian friendly and allowing citizens to participate in development decisions. That was part of the message presented to about 50 Yellow Springers during a presentation, “Smart Growth 101,” by planning expert Jim Segedy during “Smart Growth for a Small Town,” the weekend planning event sponsored by Tecumseh Land Trust and 20 other groups and individuals. Speaking in the First Presbyterian Church on Saturday morning, Segedy said that smart growth also promotes and protects the health of the environment and people, using open spaces for walking, jogging, cycling and playing. It relies on innovative designs that encourage diverse uses of land or buildings. The designs allow a variety of businesses to operate next to one another, said Segedy, a professor of urban planning at Ball State in Muncie, Ind., and the director of the university’s Community Based Projects program. Smart growth promotes the construction of narrow streets that slow traffic, he said. Roadways and downtowns developed with smart growth principles, he said, are “more human scale” and are lined with trees and greenery and buildings with awnings so people can still walk outside when it’s raining. Developments created with smart growth ideals may also cluster buildings to conserve green space and minimize roads. It means building sidewalks so people don’t have to walk in the street, he said. The point of his presentation, Segedy said, was to “get the right kind of tools” in villagers’ hands to address sprawl, which, he noted, “you don’t seem to want in your community.” Comparing smart growth to sprawl, Segedy defined sprawl as “development that takes our tax dollars away from our communities and destroys farmland and open space.” He further explained what smart growth is by presenting the “10 principles of smart growth”: • Mix land uses He noted that “growth isn’t inherently bad,” but there will come a time when a community has to “draw a line” on how much growth to allow. “At what point do you grow enough so you don’t have to build a new school and buy a new fire truck?” he asked. “Smart growth is not against growth,” Segedy said. “But we like growth that is done well.” As Yellow Springers continue to discuss development here, he said, the community should consider a number of questions, including what growth would mean; whether the costs outweigh the benefits; and whether growth will lead to sprawl. He said that zoning codes, ordinances and development guidelines can be devised in ways that show developers or builders “how to do it right.” A community can show a developer what it wants, and the developer will follow that advice to gain support, Segedy said. “If you tell developers what to do, they will listen eventually,” he said. Segedy also provided examples of how Yellow Springs already utilizes smart growth principles. Calling the Central Business District “phenomenal,” he said, “You have one of the best downtowns.” The Saturday morning Farmers’ Market and Tom’s Market help link the countryside to the village by selling locally grown produce and other goods, he said. He said the community should be designed for Yellow Springers, not visitors, who, he noted, come here about once a year. This approach will still attract tourists to the village, he added. Referring to the Center for Business and Education, the commerce park slated to be built at Dayton-Yellow Springs and East Enon Roads, Segedy said that development on the western edge of the village is “kind of in-fill development” because the infrastructure is available nearby.
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