An Analysis of the Influence of Smart Growth on Growth Patterns in Mid-Sized Canadian Metropolitan Areas

ABSTRACT

Since the late 1990s, Smart Growth has found broad acceptance within Canadian planning as a framework for sustainable urban development. Smart Growth emerged as a response to decades of dispersed and decentralized growth that dominated urbanization patterns in North America post-WWII. Through a series of spatial analysis methods, this research examines whether Smart Growth has influenced growth patterns of six mid-sized Canadian census metropolitan areas from 1990 to 2010. Findings of this research suggest that municipalities and regions have adopted policies consistent with Smart Growth, however, its influence on dispersed patterns of spatial growth has been limited.

KEYWORDS:

• Canada
• mid-sized cities
• smart growth
• growth management
• plan evaluation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Plans were analyzed for their inclusion of policies that reflect the Smart Growth principles including : i) take advantage of compact design; ii) preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental areas; and iii) strengthen and direct development towards existing communities.