Smart Growth

SMART GROWTH  means using land, infrastructure and other resources efficiently to grow a city. Encouraging development in cities is the smart thing to do as the denser development typical of cities is better for the environment than suburban sprawl.

SMART GROWTH URBAN DEVELOPMENT:

• More efficient land use
• Jobs and housing located near mass transit facilities
• Many neighborhoods within walking distance of jobs, stores and services
• Multi-family housing buildings are usually more efficient to heat and cool as they have less exposed walls and retain their heat and cold better than detached housing.

“The average single-family detached home consumes 88 percent more electricity than the average apartment in a five-or-more unit building. The average suburban household consumes 27 percent more electricity than the average urban household.”    Edward Glaeser, Triumph of the City

New Brunswick supports SMART GROWTH  by:

• Providing a mix of housing types with a variety of  affordable and market units in each  housing type: single-family, low-rise and high-rise residential;
• Encouraging mixed-use development where housing, jobs and services are in close proximity to each other to encourage less reliance on cars for travel, and to make necessary car trips shorter;
• Providing alternatives to reliance on cars for travel by funding community shuttle buses, and pedestrian and bicycle improvements

New Brunswick has received a number of “Smarth Growth” awards for development that has taken place in the city.

New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award 2003 – Lower George Street Redevelopment 
New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award 2008  – Heldrich Plaza
NJ Plan Smart Regional and Community Planning Award 2011 – Gateway Transit Village

New Brunswick has also obtained “Transit Village” status from the State of New Jersey to encourage denser development near job and transit hubs.