Letter: How does smart growth work? Letter to the editor Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) says it is committed to ‘smart growth’ policies. So, what does that really mean? Since smart growth can be anything you want it to be, there is no wrong way to implement it. Smart growth principles seem to be more about pageantry than substance and can vary widely between cities; what is seen as beneficial in one city may be viewed as environmental degradation or gentrification in another. Additionally, the term is often used as a convenient euphemism for NIMBY and inclusionary zoning. What is the official definition of smart growth? Smart growth is a development and conservation approach that directs growth to existing, serviced communities rather than developing rural land. It promotes compact, mixed-use development, diverse housing options, and walkable, transit-oriented communities that are environmentally sustainable and economically efficient. OOOKAY?! I apologize for being misled into thinking there were only two types of growth: a) Growth that is self-sufficient and offers multiple options for earning a livable wage. b) Growth that results in a high demand for social services and excessive taxation. Which American cities are considered the gold standard for smart growth? AI Overview: San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C., Denver, and Arlington, VA, which emphasize dense development and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to boost sustainability and quality of life. Note: No tree is safe in any of these cities, and they’ve destroyed most of their wetlands, but they do develop density around their subway systems, so you can get by without a car. Smart growth principles started being applied to these cities after the fact; they had already grown up, so to say they practice smart growth is somewhat of an oxymoron. These are not growing cities; instead, people are leaving them. I’m