Growth Management
A comprehensive set of policies, strategies and planning tools used by governments and communities to guide and control urban development while protecting resources and quality of life.
Growth Management
Growth management represents a systematic approach to guiding urban and regional development in a way that balances economic progress with environmental preservation and social equity. This planning framework emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as a response to the challenges of urban sprawl and uncontrolled development.
Core Principles
- Directed Development
- Establishing urban growth boundaries
- Concentrating development in existing urban areas
- Promoting infill development
- Resource Protection
- Conservation of natural areas
- Protection of agricultural lands
- watershed management
- Infrastructure Coordination
- public infrastructure timing and capacity
- Transportation system integration
- Utility service planning
Implementation Tools
Regulatory Mechanisms
Growth management employs various regulatory tools to achieve its objectives:
- zoning ordinances
- Development impact fees
- land use controls
- Building permits and caps
- Transfer of Development Rights
Planning Instruments
Comprehensive planning forms the backbone of growth management:
- Master plans
- comprehensive planning
- Capital improvement programs
- environmental impact assessment
Benefits and Challenges
Benefits
- Reduced infrastructure costs
- Environmental protection
- quality of life improvements
- Preservation of community character
- sustainable development promotion
Challenges
- Political resistance
- Market pressures
- Property rights concerns
- affordable housing impacts
- Implementation complexity
Smart Growth Connection
Growth management has evolved to embrace smart growth principles, which emphasize:
- Mixed-use development
- transit-oriented development
- Walkable communities
- environmental sustainability
Future Directions
The field continues to evolve with emerging challenges:
- Climate change adaptation
- resilient cities
- Digital technology integration
- Regional coordination
- sustainable transportation
Growth management remains a critical framework for communities seeking to shape their future development patterns while preserving their essential character and natural resources. Its success depends on careful balance between regulation and market forces, supported by strong community engagement and political will.