Smart growth provides a means for communities to incorporate more compact building design as an alternative to conventional, land consumptive development.

Compact building design suggests that communities be designed in a way which permits more open space to preserved, and that buildings be constructed in a manner that creates a more efficient use of land and resources.

By encouraging buildings to grow vertically rather than horizontally, and by incorporating structured rather than surface parking, communities can reduce the footprint of new construction, preserving more green space.

Compact building design is necessary to support wider transportation choices and provides cost savings for localities.

Communities seeking to encourage transit use to reduce air pollution and congestion recognize that minimum levels of density are required to make public transit networks viable.

Use compact development coupled with onsite best management practices to improve environmental outcomes.

Use traditional neighborhood design.

Use compact design to create more secure neighborhoods.

Subdivide vacant warehouse space into residential units.

Create compact office parks and corporate campuses.

Strategically reduce or remove minimum lot size requirements.

Manage the transition between higher- and lower-density neighborhood.