Economic Impact Studies
The real costs of sprawling, low-density, auto-dependent development are hidden. Communities dependent on property taxes often see any kind of growth as a way to increase income but the costs of maintaining roads and extending services for low-density development can quickly overwhelm a town's balance sheet. Shortsighted planning that allows supersized commercial development that is dependent on wider, faster roads and huge parking lots also bring more costs than benefits, not to mention more environmental degradation.
The Smart Growth Leadership Institute can help you understand the fiscal and economic impacts of the growth your community is facing and help your leaders compare the costs of sprawl vs. smart growth strategies.