Americans Want Smart Growth - opinion on limited development - Brief Article

National Wildlife, Oct-Nov, 2001

AMERICANS overwhelmingly want an end to sprawl, according to a poll by Smart Growth America, a coalition of citizens groups of which NWF is a leading member. Among those responding, the results show:

* 83 percent support establishing green spaces that are off-limits to development

* 81 percent favor priority funding to maintain services in existing areas rather than encourage new development

* 81 percent support tax credits and low-interest loans to revitalize faltering cities and communities

* 77 percent want to see tax dollars used to buy land for parks and open space and to protect wildlife

* 77 percent favor using transportation funds for pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods rather than new highways; 60 percent favor improved public transit over new roads.