Smart Growth

WHAT IS SMART GROWTH?

Smart growth is the opposite of sprawl. In order to maximize the use of our natural resources, we need to minimize expansion into agricultural and natural landscapes, minimize vehicular traffic and maximize use of existing road and utility infrastructure. Smart growth also reinforces existing historic settlements and villages.

Neighborhood Design for Sustainability
The Green Street community of homes will be a good neighbor and an enhancement to the village over the long term.

The dense arrangement of buildings intends to preserve as much agricultural land and open space as possible, cluster homes along the existing infrastructure of water, sewer, and utility lines, minimize car traffic and be pedestrian friendly. The street is banked into the hillside so that the pedestrian paths linking the houses are above the street.

In the future, the homeowners association could decide on a variety of group uses for the historic barn: it could incorporate facilities for public functions or gatherings (kitchen and dining area), root cellar and storage of gardening tools, or housing for small animals such as chickens.

We hope the people who live at Green Street share our commitment to socially responsible, sustainable communities and will incorporate these goals into the governance of Green Street.

The “Smart Growth” Endorsement from the Vermont Smart Growth Collaborative

The Green Street neighborhood plan has earned recognition from the VSGC as an example of exemplary development practices. They look for pedestrian access to the community, efficient use of land and clustering of buildings, preservation of  agricultural lands, and energy-efficiency. For more, see www.vtsmartgrowth.org