Scott L. Podvin, President of Podvin Development Group plans to build a smart growth, LEED Certified mixed-use community in East Orlando.  In support of his decision to adhere to the smart growth principles Podvin cites to many studies that show the environmental benfits of smart growth.  "Development guided by smart growth principles can minimize air and water pollution, enourage brownfields clean-up and reuse, and preserve natural lands," Podvin says.Smart Growth pracitcies can lessen the environmental impacts of development with techniques that include compact development, reduced impervious surfaces and improved water detention, safeguarding environmentally sensitive areas, mixing of land uses (e.g., homes, shops, hotels and offices), transit accessibility, and better pedestrian and... 01/15/2008

Smart Growth Initiatives, Sustainable Development Movement. Smart growth in the United States has been  defined as environmentally sensitive land development whose goals are to minimize dependence on automobile transportation, reduce air pollution, and make infrastructure investment more efficient. The movement was started to combat sprawl, a form of urbanization earmarked by growth centered disconnected patterns of development, commercial strips, low density, separated land uses, automobile dominance, and minimal public open space.  Today, cities around the country have adopted "the smart growth movement" as a framework for urban, and at times, suburban revival.The National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education recently published "ten principles of smart growth", which support... 01/13/2008