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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

October 3 , 2008

Group touts 'smart infill' city growth

Hoping to assist city leaders and planners, the Greenbelt Alliance has released a comprehensive guide to "smart infill."

Titled "Smart Infill," the nonprofit has released a 75-page report on finding ways to guide growth away from the urban edges of cities and into central, walkable communities.

Nicole Byrd, Solano-Napa field representative, said with the population of the Bay Area expected to jump from 7.2 million people to 9 million people by 2035 infill is needed more than ever.

"In a time of unstable housing markets, rising gas prices and a changing climate, the Bay Area can no longer afford sprawl development," Byrd said. "We hope (the report) will give city leaders an idea of what infill looks like and a guide book of the strategies. I think people get concerned because they don't know what form it will take."

Byrd said Vacaville's downtown area is a good example of how development and residential can be mixed together.

"Vacaville has done a lot of good infill in the downtown area," she said. "If you can create places to live near jobs, there will be more people to keep the businesses alive."

The report comes at a time when the county's general plan is going before voters. Part of approving that plan means extending the orderly growth initiative, which keeps development within city limits. That's why the Greenbelt Alliance is hoping cities will adopt similar practices.

"Infill offers a greener way to grow," said Jeremy Madsen, executive director of Greenbelt Alliance. "For too long, sprawl development has forced us to drive everywhere. That model won't work anymore. We need homes and jobs that are close to services and public transit."

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