Background

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 runoff pollution, 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 can get us where we need to go while easing traffic congestion and air pollution. New highways not only exacerbate these problems but also invite the destruction of open spaces by imposing far-flung development patterns in exurban hinterlands.

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

• Preserve Open Spaces
Strengthen public funding and ownership of threatened open spaces to protect these lands from development.

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