Popular Government

North Carolina's policies of the past were not made with a view to dealing with the rapid urban growth that the state is now experiencing. Today's policy makers face difficult challenges in developing diverse strategies to meet the needs of both fast- and slower-growing areas.

What have other states done to promote smart growth? A review of the spectrum of state programs provides a sense of the possibilities in North Carolina.

Over the years North Carolina has enacted several programs to address the impact of growth, some successful, some not. What can policy makers learn from history?

Although a few innovative management tools may not be authorized under North Carolina law, the smart growth toolbox for local governments is robust. Local citizens and their elected leaders have a diversity of options for influencing the direction and the impact of growth.

Preservation of environmentally important land is fundamental to smart growth, and private land trusts play a critical role in local efforts to save vital green spaces and natural areas. The two dozen trusts in North Carolina have protected nearly 60,000 acres so far.

North Carolina's strong economy has contributed to a 16.6 percent increase in the state's population over the last decade. But population growth can have serious environmental consequences. What are those consequences, and what can North Carolina do about them?

Transportation planning today is a complex set of interactions and partnerships among governments, businesses, and communities. Its goal is to integrate land-use and transportation decisions.