Community, Economy, Environment
Test Yourself on Smart Growth
DowntownThink you know what Smart Growth is? Take this short ten-question quiz on the Ten Tenets of Smart Growth.

Check the answer that you believe best represents Smart Growth concepts. Many of the questions refer to “the community.” This refers to a hypothetical community and not to a particular community. If you register to complete the SGRAT, the term “community” will refer to your community.

Smart Growth Tenet One

Create a range of housing opportunities and choices means (choose one):

A. The community builds public housing for people of low to moderate income.
B. The community zones areas for manufactured home parks.
C. Homes or apartments are readily available in the community that people of all income levels can buy or rent.
D. Multi-family homes should be permitted in the community in addition to single family homes.
E. None of the above.

Smart Growth Tenet Two

Create walkable neighborhoods means (choose one):

A. Sidewalks and paths provide an important alternative to automobile transportation.
B. Pedestrian sidewalks and paths connect neighborhoods to popular destinations, such as schools, libraries and shopping areas.
C. People feel safe walking to popular destinations.
D. All of the above.
E. None of the above.

Smart Growth Tenet Three

Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration means (choose one):

A. Community leaders meet with a wide variety of stakeholders (developers, environmentalists, recreation advocates, people with disabilities, etc.)
B. The community seeks public input through visioning meetings, community surveys, town meetings, etc.)
C. The community provides education to the community through newsletters, cable access programming, public information meetings, etc.)
D. All of the above.
E. None of the above.

Smart Growth Tenet Four

Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place means (choose one):

A. The community replaces historic buildings with newer looking structures.
B. Civic buildings are made of durable materials.
C. New developments have a similar style to those in other communities.
D. All of the above.
E. None of the above.

Smart Growth Tenet Five

A characteristic of development decisions that are predictable, fair, and cost-effective is (choose one):

A. The community regularly loses lawsuits brought by developers.
B. Developers from outside the community are treated the same in the permit review process as those from within the community.
C. The community regularly delays decisions on new development proposals.
D. All of the above.
E. None of the above.

Smart Growth Tenet Six

Mixing land uses means (choose one):

A. Senior housing is available within a 10 minute walk of essential shopping (like groceries and pharmaceuticals).
B. Residential units are permitted in the downtown commercial district.
C. Places where people work are located within walking distance of residential neighborhoods.
D. All of the above.
E. None of the above.

Smart Growth Tenet Seven

A characteristic of communities that preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental areas is (choose one):

A. There are active organizations such as a land conservancy, watershed council, agricultural commission, environmental commission, etc.
B. The community has not yet established land trusts, conservation easements, parks or preserves exist that protect important natural resource lands.
C. The community is considering, but has not yet developed a green infrastructure plan, recreation plan, agricultural protection plan or open space plan that identifies natural features, natural resources and scenic resources and methods for preserving them.
D. All of the above.
E. None of the above.

Smart Growth Tenet Eight

Providing a variety of transportation choices means (choose one):

A. Bike lanes are provided in a small part of the community.
B. Park and ride lots are provided only in the suburbs.
C. The community provides for neither transit or participates in a regional transit program, and does not provide for bicycle paths and convenient parking downtown.
D. All of the above.
E. None of the above.

Smart Growth Tenet Nine

Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities means (choose one):

A. Public sewer and water are extended incrementally, only as needed.
B. There is a distinct edge between town and the adjacent rural area.
C. Infill development, brownfield development and redevelopment occur before outward expansion of the town into greenfield areas.
D. All of the above.
E. None of the above.

Smart Growth Tenet Ten

Take advantage of compact development design means (choose one):

A. The downtown has alternatives to on-street parking, such as parking ramps, shared-use parking lots, and above or below-ground parking in mixed use buildings.
B. Residential lots in and near the downtown are bigger than fringe areas of the community.
C. Vacant buildings are torn down for parking lots.
D. All of the above.
E. None of the above.