What is smart growth in urban planning?

• A. Expansion of urban areas into rural lands without regard to transit access.
• B. A policy that preserves green spaces by prohibiting any new development near cities.
• C. A planning approach focusing on higher-density, walkable, mixed-use development near transit; aims to reduce sprawl and protect green spaces.
• D. A strategy to lower housing density to maximize vehicle use.

Answer: (C)

Smart growth guides development to be more compact, connected, and sustainable. It emphasizes higher-density, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods that are near transit, so people can live, work, and shop without relying on long car trips. By focusing growth in already built areas and near transit, it helps curb urban sprawl, protects green spaces and farmland, and reduces traffic and pollution. The option described fits this by highlighting higher-density, walkable, mixed-use development near transit and the goal of reducing sprawl while preserving green spaces.

Other descriptions miss the mark because expanding into rural lands without transit access promotes sprawl and car dependence; prohibiting any new development near cities is impractical and overly restrictive; and lowering housing density to favor more vehicle use directly contradicts the aims of smart growth.