"Smart growth" ideas grew out of a response to uncontrolled, rampant sprawl. And examples of sprawl are clearly evident in Monroe County even though there is no population growth. Consider some recent examples. While the town of Webster is forging ahead to promote new development, its green space is vanishing. Studies have shown that a new typical tract house requires about ($1.29) in services for every dollar in taxes paid. The cost of new infrastructure that follows new development is often not taken into account and taxes must eventually rise to support it. Other examples include the proposed Thruway exit for Chili, a project of dubious necessity that will likely bring sprawl to a largely agricultural area at the cost to taxpayers, the environment and local village life. In a further example, our local industrial development agency, COMIDA, frequently encourages businesses to develop new commercial buildings when vacant commercial space abounds in Monroe County.

"Smart growth" is a group of ideas centered on the principal that new municipal infrastructure ought to follow some rational, thought-out plan embraced by and benefiting the community. Some of these ideas include the re-use of existing infrastructure, open space preservation, walk-able "villages", development corridors and master planning. In it's most core manifestation, "smart growth" asks municipal planners to choose carefully when and where new roads, sewers, and water lines are to be laid to best benefit the community. "Smart growth" planning does not tell you where you can and can't build a house. Instead it changes the incentives for development. For example, where growth is discouraged, investments in municipal infrastructure can be limited.  

"Smart growth" is often the victim of semantics and may appear controversial because opponents are often misinformed about its meaning. Many believe "smart growth" means "big government" making all of the decisions about where you can live. However, we live in a democracy, it is our representatives, especially those at the local level, who would implement and be agents for "smart growth" legislation and initiatives. And since we elect those representatives, it is our decision whether or not we would like to direct development, or have it direct us.