The majority of Americans live in low density single family detached housing (approximately 60%). Each subdivision looks the same; houses on small lots with lawns and garages on dead end streets. For the smaller cities and towns it is the predominate housing type. It is what everyone expects and we have been doing the same thing for the past 50 years. This low density development pattern consumes a large amount of land and resources, increases the cost of utilities and puts a tremendous number of vehicles on our roads
The rate of land that is being consumed for urban uses is more than double the rate of the Country's population growth. The rapid pace of conversion from resource land to suburbs is not due to the amount of development, but to its low density. We are spreading fewer people across each square mile and using more land in the process. Urban areas will always continue to expand to accommodate the population growth, but the way in which they expand is becoming very important. As we confront dwindling land and energy resources, concentrated growth patterns make sense. Concentrated growth patterns should reflect the following: reuse of land that has already been altered, limiting the range of new development to areas that are already accessible and, in some cases, building up not out.
AIMS & BENEFITS OF SMART GROWTH
Volusia County, including DeLand can ill afford to accommodate our future population increase with more suburban sprawl. Fortunately, there is an alternative in urban planning that is growing in popularity. It preserves more open space, creates cohesive neighborhoods with distinct identities and local amenities, and reduces dependence on fossil fuels, to name just a few of its benefits. This alternative works because it combines established and time-tested principles of town planning, innovative ideas, and public participation in land-use decisions. It is smart growth.
When communities choose smart growth strategies, they can create new neighborhoods and maintain existing ones that are attractive, convenient, safe, healthy and affordable. They can foster design that encourages social, civic, and physical activity. They can protect the environment and conserve resources while stimulating economic growth. Most of all, they can create more choices for residents, workers, visitors, children, families, single people, and older adults-choices in where to live, how to get around, and how to interact with the people around them. When communities do this kind of planning, they preserve the best of their past while creating a bright future for generations to come.
Smart growth works because it is built upon principles that relate to positive aspects of community development.
Finally, smart growth aims to foster a sense of community, where residents can take civic pride in distinct places, places where people can meet and hang out, places that attract tourists, places where people can feel a sense of belonging, places you'd want to stroll down when you don't have to be anywhere. This is the intangible side that is nevertheless essential to quality of life.
Smart Growth has the potential to positively affect our built environment in many ways. It's important to remember that smart growth is primarily a set of principles that can be adapted to fit particular locations' culture, climate, and history. There is no one way to build a smart growth neighborhood.
Basic Principles of Smart Growth
The following are the ten guiding principles that make up Smart Growth. These principles illustrate the characteristics associated with healthy, vibrant, and diverse communities that offer their residents choices of how and where to live.
Mix land uses - The mixing of land uses (commercial, residential, recreational, educational, public, open space, and others) that can encourage foot and bike modes of transportation
Take advantage of compact building design - Use less land for development (this includes building size as well as parking); land consumption for buildings can not be used for open space
Create housing opportunities and choices - Providing quality housing for people of all income levels and age groups
Create walkable communities - The need for pedestrian-friendly features ranges from types of development to shade for sidewalks
Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place - Opposite to strip development that does not instill community pride
Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas - Preserves critical environmental areas, provide recreational opportunities, and guide new development into existing communities
Provide a variety of transportation options - Will help to improve congestion in transportation system
Strengthen and direct development to existing communities - Development directed to communities already served by infrastructure; use resources of existing neighborhoods offer and maintain value of public and private investment
Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective - Concept must be accepted and endorsed by private sector to be able to meet the future demand for development. Predictability assures developers their projects can be approved
Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions - Concept must be consistent with community's own sense of how and where the growth should happen.
Smart Growth Initiative Report
In 2004, a county-wide Smart Growth Implementation Committee was established that reviewed the principles of Smart Growth in relation to the issues facing Volusia County. That committee produced a report that broke the recommendations into seven subject areas or elements (listed on this page), 15 "keystone" recommendations and 49 additional recommendations that would implement the principles of Smart Growth in Volusia County. The actions taken so far on each element are also presented. The entire report is included on Volusia County's Smart Growth Initiative webpage.
KEY ELEMENTS FROM SMART GROWTH INITIATIVE REPORT (VOLUSIA COUNTY)
Protect the Environmental Core - The Volusia Council of Governments (VCOG) prepared a map that identified the primary areas to be preserved from development. The map was originally titled simply Map A, now it is referred to as the ECO map (Environmental Corridor Overlay map). A VCOG Smart Growth subcommittee is also working on a model for conservation subdivisions that would be utilized by developers in and near ECO lands.
Appropriately direct development - A VCOG Smart Growth subcommittee has been reviewing the concept of transferable development rights (TDRs).
Develop livable communities - Will be developed individually by each local jurisdiction.
Ensure the continued existence of agriculture - Agricultural lands are now included in the ECO lands.
Meet the infrastructure needs of growth - A VCOG Smart Growth subcommittee has been reviewing the concept of joint planning agreements (JPA) to ensure that growth in and around cities can be accommodated.
Integrate education - All cities and the county continue to participate in the school board's Public Facilities Planning Committee.
Integrate economic development - An on going effort throughout the county.
The City of DeLand 2050 Vision Plan is intended to be strategically aligned with smart growth principles. The general principles of Smart Growth will be used in combination with the elements of the Smart Growth Initiative of Volusia County.