ABSTRACT
Many communities are rethinking the function and design of their street networks. Communities are also rethinking outdated zoning codes, to allow a mixture of residential and commercial zoning. This change enables people to live close to their work, eliminating traffic congestion and the need to provide additional roadway and transit capacity. By aligning zoning, design, tax, and historic preservation policies, communities both large and small are encouraging location-sensitive development while enabling developers to create products appropriate to the community. Communities are also finding that aligning local, state, and federal policies on the same objective can speed the development process, saving money for jurisdictions and developers alike. Green communities' time has obviously come. Communities are discovering the power of effective public participation. The good news is that green communities can be created regardless of community size, location, diversity, demographics, or economics; thoughtful land-use and transportation policies and investments have the potential to transform communities everywhere.
