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6 Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities Understanding Rural Smart Growth Smart growth approaches to development benefit the community, the environment, the economy, and public health. Rural communities hoping to imple- ment smart growth approaches must strategically facilitate community decision making and policies and make the most of their natural features and amenities, recognizing that no community has endless resources. If rural communities are to meet the broad challenge of maintaining rural character while also supporting economic growth and opportunity, they require a set of tools that can be adjusted to reflect the diversity of rural communities and that can apply to both expand- ing and contracting economies. This publication is designed to provide this set of tools. A rural community that uses smart growth approaches has a vibrant downtown, with historical buildings that have been preserved, a walkable Main Street or two, and compact neighborhoods surround- ing the downtown. It is a place with a small -town feel and sense of community that develop when you know your neighbors. Residents gather in town for important events, to shop, and to participate in civic activities. The local economy — whether it is built on resource extraction, tourism, or new economic opportunities that have evolved in rural America — celebrates, protects, and supports the use of the land. Local businesses are encouraged to flourish, particu- larly those that support the community's rural iden- tity. Housing options support a variety of financial and lifestyle choices, whether old or newly constructed, in Since the mid- 1990s, the Smart Growth Network, a network of nongovernmental organizations representing diverse interests, has been identifying best practices, policies, and strategies that help communities get the results they want from growth. The framework for these findings is a set of ten Smart Growth Prin- ciples (see below), which apply to a range of communities, from urban to rural, and were developed based on the experiences of communities around the country. See the Smart Growth Network Website for a discussion of these principles: http://www.smartgrowth.org. • Mix land uses. • Take advantage of compact design. • Create a range of housing opportunities and choices. Smart growth can help create vibrant, walkable Main Streets In rural communities, while preserving historic buildings and community character, as seen in Seneca Falls, New York. town or the countryside, in modest apartment build- ings or single - family homes. Underutilized lots in already developed areas are reused whenever possible, especially before using valuable undeveloped property for new construction, to control infrastructure costs, to preserve pristine land, and to provide more options for transportation. The community has articulated its joint vision for the future in policy documents so that devel- opers and the broader stakeholder community alike have some predictability. With such a vision in mind, it becomes clear that smart growth strategies enable the entire community to benefit from its local rural heritage and resources, just as all can share jointly in its development and conservation. • Create walkable communities. • Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place. • Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas. • Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities. • Provide a variety of transportation options. • Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost - effective. • Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions. a 0 d 0 g a