Master Planned Cities

Smart Growth

Smart growth is the alterative planning principle

to "Urban Sprawl," development that is economically

viable and preserves the environment. Planning that

is comprehensive integrated and regional, public,

private, and non profit sectors work together.

Certainly and predictability in the development

process, infrastructure is maintained and enhance to

serve the community. Redevelopment of housing,

Brownfield sites and obsolete building recognizes the

importance of urban centers.

The main principles of "Smart Growth"; mix land

uses, compact building design, walk able

neighborhoods, development in existing communities

and Downtown Brea and Irvine, California is a prime

example of Smart Growth which with city of Laredo

should look into for future development.

The smart growth agenda consist of five policies.

First new forms of metropolitan governance such as

environmental protection, economic development and

transportation, Second planners most control the land

use to manage growth. Third, preserve land by state

resources to prevent sprawl, fourth reinvest

development in older establish area's. Fifth reduce

tax reforms to reduce tension between jurisdictions.

Smart Growth Project

Downtown Brea, California illustrates smart growth

qualities to encourage better quality of life. The

city of Brea has recently fixed their downtown since

the 1980's. This area of Brea was decaying old poor

buildings and had little use for residents

and city services. Recently around year 2000 - 2001

community developers and residents had a positive

vision to remodel the area in mix use urban

development. "The city acquired 60 acres of the city

center and removed blighted buildings, relocated

business to appropriate locations, and remade

downtown as the heart and Soul of Brea

(www.epa.gov)."

Brea's downtown is constructed of 350,000 square

feet of commercial space, and 19,000 feet of office

space. This area also has 22 screen movie theater,

restaurants, live entertainment, night clubs,

apartments, town homes, and single family homes. The

mix use of commercial and residential development

gives the downtown a live atmosphere year round with

events to people of all ages. Pedestrians are able to

walk and jog along wide - beautiful sidewalks with a

shade of palm trees. Restaurants have outside dinning

to accommodate costumers. By creating a structured

parking garage allows cars to drive through downtown

and lowers traffic, this new concept "Smart Growth

"affects the whole city of Brea with a better quality

of life.

"Brea became a successful downtown through its

principles of smart growth for city government, urban

developers, and local citizens (www.sprawlcity.org)"

In many aspects, smart growth is a movement is

changing demographics of the country and

restructuring of market economy The rise of

congestion, the backlash to excessive surbanization

all supports the desire for a different pattern of

growth (www.epa.gov)."

Master Plan City "Irvine, California"

The city of Irvine is one of best well planned

cities in America, nation's safest communities,

highly educated and skilled labor force, and offer

new housing opportunities to mid Ð'- high class

residents. Irvine was developed on land that long ago

a large orange grove site; and completely planned

from scratch. This city offers a university, airport,

technology industry, and medical manufactures which

all correlates to the city's economy. The local

government