The sprawling low-density developments of Northern Virginia have devoured our open space, and fast-growing states like Virginia and  North Carolina will lose another 2 million acres of farms and forests in the next 20 years. Out-of-control development increases traffic congestion and air pollution, degrades our rivers and streams with polluted runoff, and strains our public infrastructure and the taxpayer dollars needed to sustain it.

A Responsible Growth Plan
To protect our environment and maintain our quality of life, our policy-makers must embrace the idea of responsible growth. Any new plans should:

• Promote More Transit, Not New Highways
Expanding mass transit, like the extension of the Orange Line from DC to Dulles, can get us where we need to go while easing traffic congestion and air pollution. New highways exacerbate these problems and invite the destruction of open spaces by imposing far-flung development patterns in exurban hinterlands.

• Channel Growth
Channel development into existing urban areas requires a combination of stronger land use planning regulations and urban growth boundaries. This will create vital communities and preserve our open spaces without sacrificing economic development.

• Preserve Open Spaces
Stronger public funding and ownership of threatened open spaces protects these lands from development.

• End Developer Handouts
Taxpayer giveaways for sprawling developments strain resources and infrastructure of our communities. More efficient growth will save taxpayer dollars in communities across the country.