Explain the concept of smart growth and its core principles.

• A. Sprawl and car-dependent development
• B. Compact building and walkable neighborhoods
• C. Isolated development far from downtown
• D. High-density clusters with limited open space

Answer: (B)

Smart growth focuses on shaping development to be more sustainable and livable by creating compact, walkable communities with a mix of housing, jobs, and amenities, and by prioritizing transit, pedestrians, and preserved open space. Compact building and walkable neighborhoods embody these ideas, enabling residents to live near shops, schools, and transit, which reduces car dependence and supports lively streets. Patterns that describe sprawl, isolated development far from downtown, or high-density areas with little open space run counter to this approach because they tend to increase driving, fragment communities, and erode accessible green space.