SMART GROWTH VOCABULARY TERMS
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agriculture
use of land for the production of food and fiber, including the growing
of crops and/or the grazing of animals on natural prime or improved pasture
land
agricultural
preserve
land designated for agriculture or conservation
air pollution
concentrations of substances found in the atmosphere that exceed naturally
occurring quantities and are undesirable or harmful in some way.
ambient
surrounding on all sides; used to describe measurements of existing conditions
with respect to traffic, noise, air and other environments. (i.e. ambient
air quality)
American Dream
an American social ideal that stresses egalitarianism and especially material
prosperity (i.e. to own a house in the suburbs, to start one’s own business)
aquifer
An underground, water-bearing layer of earth, porous rock, sand, or gravel,
through which water can seep or be held in natural storage — aquifers
generally hold sufficient water to be used as a water supply
architecture
the character or style of a building; the profession of designing buildings,
open areas, communities and other environments, usually with some regard
to aesthetic effect, and can include restoration or remodeling of existing
buildings
auto emissions
the discharge of automobile fumes containing various substances including
pollutants
blueprint
something intended as a guide for something else;"a blueprint for
a house", "a blueprint for development"
brownfield
a track of land that has been developed for industrial purposes, polluted,
then abandoned
brownfield
an area with abandoned, idle, or under-used industrial and commercial
facilities where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse is complicated by
real or perceived environmental contamination
buffer
an area designed to separate; a neutral area separating different forces
or functions
buffer zone
an area of land separating two distinct land uses that acts to soften
or mitigate the effects of one land use on the other
building
Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or
occupancy
CWPT
The Civil War Preservation Trust — America's largest non-profit organization
devoted to the preservation of our nation's endangered Civil War battlefield
lands. The Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism
initiatives to inform the public about the war and the fundamental conflicts
that sparked it
capitalism
an economic system based on private ownership of capital (goods or collateral)
city grid plan
a plan for cities designed using straight streets with intersections at
right angles
city planning
determining the future physical arrangement and condition of a community,
considering the present condition, future requirements and proposals for
constructional, legal and financial programs to implement the plan
clustering
concentrating residential development on half of a given amount of property
leaving the rest of the property as undisturbed greenspace
clustered development
development in which a number of dwelling units are placed in closer proximity
than usual, or are attached, with the purpose of retaining an open space
area
community park
land with full public access intended to provide recreation opportunities
beyond those supplied by neighborhood parks — larger in scale than
neighborhood parks but smaller than regional parks
commute
to travel back and forth regularly (as between a suburb and city)
congestion
to be concentrated in a small or confined space; being clogged
conservation
the management of natural resources to prevent waste, destruction, or
degradation
cul-de-sac
a short street or alley with only a single means of ingress and egress
at one end and with a large turnaround at its other end
culture
a particular civilization at a particular stage; the knowledge and values
shared by a society
DPs
Development Plans — plans used in identifying the direction of population
and land use growth for a region, over the next 20 or so years
deforestation
the process of clearing of forests; the state of having been cleared of
forests
developable
land land that is suitable as a location for structures and that can be
developed free of significant impact on natural resource areas
developer
an individual who or business that prepares raw land for the construction
of buildings and/or erects building space for use primarily by others
development
the physical extension and/or construction of urban land uses — development
activities include: subdivision of land; construction or alteration of
structures, roads, utilities, and other facilities; installation of septic
systems; grading; deposit of refuse, debris, or fill materials; and clearing
of natural vegetative cover
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency - created in 1970 as an agency of the
United States federal government, charged with protecting the environment
and enforcing environmental laws and regulations
ecology
the interrelationship of living things to one another and their environment;
the study of such interrelationships
economy
the production and consumption of goods and services of a community
environment
the total of surrounding things, conditions and influences; the social
and cultural forces that shape the life of a person or a population
environmental justice
the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless
of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development,
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and
policies. Fair treatment means that no group of people, including a racial,
ethnic, or socioeconomic group should bear a disproportionate share of
the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal,
and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and
tribal programs and policies
estuary
a water passage where the tide meets a river current, especially an arm
of the sea at the lower end of a river
ethnicity
an ethnic quality of affiliations resulting from racial or cultural ties
farmland
land used or suitable for farming (of food crops)
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency — the government agency in charge
of helping people before and after a disaster such as hurricanes, tornadoes,
floods and earthquakes
free market economy
an economic system in which the allocation of resources is determined
solely by supply and demand (usually used as synonymous with capitalism)
GI Bill
federal legislation that created a comprehensive package of benefits,
including financial assistance for higher education, for veterans of US
military service; benefits are intended to help veterans readjust to civilian
life following service the their country and to encourage volunteers for
military duty
gentrification
the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class
or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces earlier
usually poorer resident
greenfield
farmland and open areas where there has been no prior industrial or commercial
activity, and therefore where the threat of contamination is much lower
than in urbanized areas
greenspace
a tract of land designated for undisturbed natural vegetation
growth management
the use by a community of a wide range of techniques in combination to
determine the amount, type, and rate of development desired by the community
and to channel that growth into designated areas. Growth management policies
can be implemented through growth rates, zoning, capital improvement programs,
public facilities ordinances, urban limit lines, standards for levels
of service, and other programs
HUD
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - a cabinet-level department
of the federal government that administers housing and community development
programs
heritage
that which is inherited, or passes from heir to heir; the history, culture
and identification of a group of people
historic preservation
the preservation of historically significant structures and neighborhoods
until such time as, and in order to facilitate, restoration and rehabilitation
of the building(s) to a former condition
housing development
a group of individual dwellings or apartment houses typically of similar
design that are usually built and sold or leased by one management
incentive
something that entices or prompts a person or group greater effort or
action, as a reward offered for using public transit or revitalizing abandoned
areas
infill
development that channels economic growth into existing urban and suburban
communities and conserves natural resources at the periphery of the metropolis
infill development
development of vacant land (usually individual lots or left-over properties)
within areas that are already largely developed
infrastructure
public services and facilities, such as sewage-disposal systems, water-supply
systems, other utility systems, and roads
infrastructure
the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization);
the system of public works of a country, state or region; the resources
(personnel, buildings, equipment) required for an activity inter- connectedness
having internal connections between the parts; mutually joined or related
landfill a low are that has been filled in
leapfrog
development new development separated from existing development by substantial
vacant land
MARTA
the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority which provides comprehensive
public transportation operating both buses and a rail system
man-made
products manufactured, created or constructed by human beings; things
not naturally occuring in the environment
mixed-use
properties on which various uses, such as office, commercial, institutional,
and residential, are combined in a single building or on a single site
in an integrated development project with significant functional interrelationships
and a coherent physical design
mixed-use development
an approach to land use planning and urban design that promotes the building
of neighborhoods with a mix of uses and housing types, architectural variety,
a central public gathering place, interconnecting streets and alleys,
and edges defined by greenbelts or boulevards. The basic goal is integration
of the activities of potential residents with work, shopping, recreation,
and transit all within walking distance
mixed-use zoning
zoning that allows for integrating housing, retail, entertainment, civic
and office space in one central area
neighborhood park
city- or county-owned land intended to serve the recreation needs of people
living or working within one-half mile radius of the park
neighborhood unit
according to one widely-accepted concept of planning, the neighborhood
unit should be the basic building block of the city. It is based on the
elementary school, with other community facilities located at its center
and arterial streets at its perimeter. The distance from the school to
the perimeter should be a comfortable walking distance for a school-age
child; there would be no through traffic uses. Limited industrial or commercial
would occur on the perimeter where arterials intersect. This was the model
for American suburban development after World War II
nonintegrated open
space
the zoning term for open vegetation that is permanently protected from
certain types of development such as roads and parking areas (open space
is different from greenspace in that it may be landscaped or used for
recreational areas)
overfish
to fish to excess; to fish so much that the fish usually found in a particular
environment are no longer found there
park
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property;
piece of open land for recreation
pedestrian
a person who travels by foot
planned community
a large-scale development whose essential features are a definable boundary;
a consistent, but not necessarily uniform, character; overall control
during the development process by a single development entity; private
ownership of recreation amenities; and enforcement of covenants, conditions,
and restrictions by a master community association
pollutant
any introduced gas, liquid, or solid that makes a resource unfit for its
normal or usual purpose
pollution
the presence of matter or energy whose nature, location, or quantity produces
undesired environmental effects
pollution
the state of being contaminated with harmful substances; unwanted substances
or factors
poverty
the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money
or material possessions
preservation
as used in historic preservation, the process of sustaining the form and
extent of a structure essentially as it exists. Preservation aims at halting
further deterioration and providing structural stability but does not
contemplate significant building
public transit
a system of regularly-scheduled buses and/or trains available to the public
on a fee-per-ride basis - also called "Mass Transit"
reconstruction
as used in historic preservation, the process of reproducing by new construction
the exact form and detail of a vanished structure, or part thereof, as
it appeared during a specific period of time. Reconstruction is often
undertaken when the property to be reconstructed is essential for understanding
and interpreting the value of an historic district and sufficient documentation
exists to insure an exact reproduction of the original
reconstruction
the activity of constructing something again
reclamation
the conversion of waste land or uninhabitable areas into those suitable
for use of living or cultivating
recycle
use again after processing
redevelop
to demolish existing buildings; or to increase the overall floor area
existing on a property; or both; irrespective of whether a change occurs
in land use
revitalization
the coming again into activity and prominence
runoff
that portion of rain or snow that does not percolate into the ground and
is discharged into streams instead
runoff
the portion of precipitation on land that ultimately reaches streams often
containing dissolved or suspended materials
smart
growth
generally refers to an inclusive pattern of development with a diversity
of people, building structures and uses and encourages preservation of
resources, public transportation, inclusion of green space, mixed zoning
and sustainable use of land
smog
fog made heavier and darker by smoke and chemical flumes; a photochemical
haze caused by the action of solar ultraviolet radiation on atmosphere
polluted with hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen from automobile exhaust
sprawl
the continued growth of a thing or group of things into outerlying areas;
the expansion of a community without concern for consequences or environmental
impact; automobile-dependent growth concentrated in outer suburbs
strip mall
a retail complex of stores or restaurants in adjacent spaces in one long
building, typically having a narrow parking area directly in front of
the stores
subdivision
the division of a tract of land into defined lots, either improved or
unimproved, which can be separately conveyed by sale or lease, and which
can be altered or developed
suburb
a residential area located on the outskirts of a city
sustainability
community use of natural resources in a way that does not jeopardize the
ability of future generations to live and prosper
sustainable development
development that maintains or enhances economic opportunity and community
well-being while protecting and restoring the natural environment upon
which people and economies depend. Sustainable development meets the needs
of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs (source: Minnesota State Legislature)
sustainable development
the idea that economic development should proceed in such a way to conserve
the environment and depletable natural resources
traditional neighborhood
where shops, offices, residences, schools, government buildings, entertainment,
churches are clustered together, all within walking distance, often tied
together by size and design
transit
the conveyance of persons or goods from one place to another by means
of a local, public transportation system
urban
of, relating to, characteristic of, or constituting a city. Urban areas
are generally characterized by moderate and higher density residential
development (i.e., three or more dwelling units per acre), commercial
development, and industrial development, and the availability of public
services required for that development, specifically central water and
sewer, an extensive road network, public transit, and other such services
(e.g., safety and emergency response)
urban
relating to or characteristic of a city or densely populated area
urban design
the attempt to give form, in terms of both beauty and function, to selected
urban areas or to whole cities. Urban design is concerned with the location,
mass, and design of various urban components and combines elements of
urban planning, architecture, and landscape architecture
urban growth boundary
an officially adopted and mapped line dividing land to be developed from
land to be protected for natural or rural uses. Urban growth boundaries
are regulatory tools, often designated for long periods of time (20 or
more years) to provide greater certainty for both development and conservation
goals. (source: Greenbelt Alliance)
urban land use
residential, commercial, or industrial land use in areas where urban services
are available
urban limit line
a boundary, sometimes parcel-specific, located to mark the outer limit
beyond which urban development will not be allowed. It has the aim of
discouraging urban sprawl by containing urban development during a specified
period, and its location may be modified over time
urban open space
the absence of buildings or development, usually in well-defined volumes,
within an urban environment
urban reserve
an area outside of an urban service area but within an urban growth boundary,
in which future development and extension of municipal services are contemplated
but not imminent
urban service area
(1) n area in which urban services will be provided and outside of which
such services will not be extended. (2) developed, undeveloped, or agricultural
land, either incorporated or unincorporated, within the sphere of influence
of a city, which is served or will be served during the first five years
of an adopted capital improvement program by urban facilities, utilities,
and services. The boundary around an urban service area is called the
"urban service area boundary" and is to be developed in cooperation with
a city and adopted by a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). (California
Government Code Section 56080.)
urban services
utilities
(such as water, gas, electricity, and sewer) and public services (such
as police, fire, schools, parks,and recreation) provided to an urbanized
or urbanizing area
urban sprawl
haphazard growth or outward extension of a city resulting from uncontrolled
or poorly managed development
urban sprawl
the spreading of urban developments (as houses and shopping centers) on
undeveloped land near a city
urban renewal
a construction program to replace or restore substandard buildings in
an urban area
watershed
a line or the area that divides two adjacent river systems
wetlands
a low area where the land is saturated with water
zoning
dividing an area into zones or sections reserved for different purposes
such as residence and business and manufacturing, etc.
- Aquarius Underwater Lab, Atlanta, Georgia
- Bald Head Island, North Carolina
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Beaufort, South Carolina
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Interstate and Defense Highways Act
- Loudoun County, Virginia
- Miami, Florida
- Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Natural Heritage Department (EPA)
- Nature Conservancy
- Neuse River
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Savannah, Georgia
- Seaside, Florida
- Smart Growth Alliance
- Smart Growth America
- Sun City, South Carolina
- Tallahassee, Florida
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