New Urbanism
New Urbanism is a time-tested planning practice
that incorporates interrelated patterns of land use, transportation,
and urban form to create communities that foster the most desirable characteristics
of human habitation: neighborliness, environmental sustainability, economic
efficiency and prosperity, historic preservation, participation in civic
processes, and human health. New Urbanism practices apply to all scales
of community, from the region and neighborhood to the block and building.
Restrictive conventional zoning and subdivision regulations over the
past 50 years have led to development patterns, particularly in the suburbs,
that diminish these desirable characteristics of human habitation. Separated
land uses and excessive traffic and parking provisions result in increasing
air and water pollution, decreasing natural environments, lack of accessibility
among children and the elderly, lengthening congestion and commuting
time, rising public service costs, reduced civic involvement, and declining
health.
The purpose of the New Urbanism Division is to provide planners, public
officials, and other decision makers with the information, support, and
tools needed to eliminate restrictive conventional development regulations
and allow New Urbanism patterns to be incorporated in all communities.
Join the New Urbanism Division
