What Smart Growth and New Urbanism Can Do For Rural Communities - Topic of the Planning Board’s Annual Leadership Conference
George R. Grasser speaking at the 2012 Planning Board Dinner
The Cattaraugus County Planning Board held its Annual Leadership Conference on Wednesday, July 25th, at the Cattaraugus County Olean Airport in Ischua with 88 people in attendance. Members of the Airport Support Group gave informative tours of the Airport facilities and answered numerous questions concerning its operation.
George R. Grasser, Executive Director for Partners for a Livable Western New York, was the keynote speaker. His topic was "What Smart Growth and New Urbanism Can Do For Rural Communities". He presented Smart Growth Principles and New Urbanism Land Use Practices to the county and municipal officials in attendance which will be very helpful as we continue to plan for the future of our rural communities.
Some of the Smart Growth Principles that Mr. Grasser presented are:
- locating new development near existing development and infrastructure;
- protecting open space, farmland and critical environmental areas;
- creating a vibrant mix of land uses;
- increasing the range of housing opportunities and choices;
- and designing places for personal interaction and walkability.
A few of the New Urbanism Land Use Practices that Mr. Grasser presented are a finer grain of land uses, such as
- smaller areas of the same zoning classification;
- infill development and preservation and renovation of existing buildings;
- walkable and bikeable communities;
- streets of the minimum width necessary to accommodate traffic flow;
- connective street patterns;
- building to lot lines in higher density areas;
- neighborhoods with shopping, parks, squares, and varied housing types and sizes;
- and hidden garages that are set-back from the front or accessed from the rear of the lot.
