What is a Smart Growth Community?

A Smart Growth Community is more town-centered, is transit and pedestrian oriented, and has a greater mix of housing, commercial and retail uses. It also preserves open space and many other environmental amenities. However, the thread that makes Smart Growth efforts successful is to involve the community early and often in the planning process and often leads to innovative strategies and options which will, long term, foster vibrant communities and healthy lands.

So what is Harris Ranch's plan to shape Smart Growth?

• Respect the historical roots of the mill town of Barberton and the Harris homestead.
• Provide 65% open space including 750+ acres in the foothills for conservation easements.
• Respect all wildlife; evaluate impact and incorporate the wildlife mitigation plan.
• Build 200 to 700 feet away from the Boise River.
• Provide a vibrant mix of commercial, retail, housing, and postal pavilions with a walk-to urban core.
• Offer high, medium, and low housing densities and rear-loaded garages on alleys.
• Build using Energy Star guidelines.
• Keep schools, jobs, and daily living within walking distance.
• Create a well-connected transportation system to maximize mobility and accessibility.
• Use roundabouts to improve traffic safety and flow.
• Reduce dependence on cars and conserve energy with pedestrian, bicycle, and transportation systems.
• Make transit possible by creating an environment with:
  • Supportive housing and employment densities within walkable ¼ mile
  • Grid of streets for easy access to stops
  • Safe and comfortable stops with active uses nearby
• Use boulevards, sidewalks, bus routes, paths, and trails to connect neighborhoods.
• Incorporate areas to gather including a town square, parks, and a river walkway.
• Develop a strong sense of place.
• Enable neighbors to really know one another.