Smart Growth refers to a vision for development and a movement that has gained increasing attention in recent years as communities across the nation have grown concerned that current development patterns may have long-term, negative economic, social and environmental consequences for our cities, existing suburbs, small towns, rural communities, and wilderness areas.

The issue of finding not just smarter but more equitable ways to grow touches on many aspects of creating strong neighborhoods and healthy communities. Smart Growth can be good for communities, because it will provide greater access to economic opportunities and better services. But the availability of affordable housing is critical to achieving the kinds of vital neighborhoods that smart growth advocates describe. In essence, we believe that people who work in our communities should be able to live in them. A sufficient stock of decent, affordable and mixed-income housing is the single most important element of this vision.

The Coalition created a list of recommendations that were presented to the Smart Growth Study Commission in 2000; most of the recommendations were included in the Commission's final report. Unfortunately, the report has not yet been released, but a bill will be introduced in the Legislature at the end of the session to create a legislative study commission to further examine the Smart Growth Study Commission's recommendations.

View the Smart Growth Study Commission's report.

Smart Growth and Affordable Housing Recommendations:

• Expand funding for housing that is affordable to low-income people;
• Appropriate $50 million to the Housing Trust Fund;
• Expand the state low income housing tax credit to 75% of the federal credit for Tier 3, 4 and 5 enterprise areas where there is mandated income targeting in order to receive the state tax credit. Expand funding for capacity of nonprofit affordable housing developers;
• Authorize local governments to adopt inclusionary programs that require all large new housing developments to include a minimum of 15% affordable housing;
• Provide strong incentives for, and require local governments to, prepare and implement comprehensive plans;
• Provide planning resources for low-wealth cities and counties;
• Require that all plans analyze (1) the need for affordable housing based on available data and established criteria and (2) how those needs will be addressed;
• Require that all plans contain an "environmental justice" impact analysis by identifying and addressing disproportionately high and adverse human health, environmental or economic effects of development policies and activities, including siting of public facilities, utilities and highways within minority and low-income communities;
• Require that (1) all units of local government convene a "Planning Task Force" to participate in the development of the comprehensive plan, with representation from community-based organizations who represent residents in the affected communities; and (2) all plans, to the greatest extent practicable, provide for meaningful public participation in their development, with continued public input throughout the plan's development process;
• Require that housing, new roads and utility resources expended by NC state agencies result in a mix of affordable housing (rental and homeownership) throughout entire communities, near jobs, transportation and services.

NC Smart Growth Alliance's web page

Transportation

The North Carolina Highway Trust Fund is outdated, inflexible and unable to meet its original goals. New road construction projects outpace the badly needed repairs to our existing highway infrastructure and hinder the use of new, more convenient, accessible and affordable forms of transportation. This outdated policy has resulted in declining air and water quality and a loss of open space and farmland. It has made it more difficult for many of our citizens to get to jobs and services, while at the same time resulting in the displacement of families and communities as they are forced to make way for new and often unnecessary roads. In addition, this policy fails to provide pedestrian and bicycle-friendly options within communities, thereby reducing physical activity and adversely impacting the health of our citizens.

Click here for more information on the history and background of the Highway Trust Fund.

A new Coalition has been formed called Citizens for Transportation Alternatives. The goals of the campaign are simple yet ground-breaking. First, to open up the Highway Trust Fund so that the millions of dollars held there can be used to bring meaningful transportation to our communities instead of its current mandate of building loop roads and four-lane highways. Second, to return the decision-making process to the taxpayers who generated the funds.

What is the connection between transportation planning and affordable housing? Click here to find out.

We need your support! You are invited to join Citizens for Transportation Alternatives and become a partner in the campaign to change our transportation priorities. For more information, write Jesse Wimberly at jessewimberley@earthlink.net.