Smart Growth

The Planning Board has been working to develop a procedure to encourage a development type often referred to as “Smart Growth.” Smart growth, sometimes also called “Green Development,” seeks to have residential developments more sustainable, closer to the downtown, walkable, more energy efficient, and more environmentally sound. As an incentive for developers to build in this manner, the Land Use Code, if amended to include Smart Growth criteria, would allow a higher density.

Before the Planning Board goes any further in finalizing these draft criteria, we (the Planning Board and I) want to know what you think about this idea. Below are the draft criteria that a developer would have to meet before any density bonus would be granted. All of these criteria would have to be met in order to increase the density from 1 dwelling unit per 6,000 square feet of lot area to 1 dwelling unit per 4,000 square feet of lot area. According to the draft criteria, if additional smart growth measures were met, the density could go to 1 dwelling unit per 3,000 square feet of lot area—double the presently allowed density.

Also below are pictures of various residential developments that are at a density that could be achieved by a developer if these draft criteria were adopted.

What do you think of this idea? Is “Smart Growth” and “Green Development” a good idea or a bad idea? Is a higher density okay if the development meets these “Smart Growth” or “Green Development” standards? Or is a higher density not appropriate under any circumstances? Should the Planning Board and I move forward with this concept and hold a public hearing, or should we scrap it?

Your input is important. Please e-mail the Planning Board at PlanningBoard@cityofbath.com or me at JUpham@cityofbath.com.

Thanks
Jim Upham AICP
Planning Director

Draft of Smart Growth Criteria
Smart Growth Examples

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