An urban planning theory that concentrates walkable city areas to prevent urban sprawl is known as?

• A. New Urbanism
• B. Sprawl
• C. Slow-growth cities
• D. Smart growth policies

Answer: (D)

Smart growth is the planning approach that aims to curb urban sprawl by concentrating development in walkable, mixed-use, transit-accessible areas. It uses policy tools and planning practices to steer growth toward already developed places, preserve open space, and create compact, pedestrian-friendly communities. That's why it's the best fit for a theory that centers walkable city areas as a way to prevent sprawl. New Urbanism also promotes walkable neighborhoods, but it's primarily a design movement focused on how streets and blocks are laid out rather than the broader policy framework for growth management. Sprawl describes the pattern itself, not a governing theory, and slow-growth cities is a less standard term not as widely recognized as a formal planning approach.