Smart Growth: Crisis & opportunity in uncertain times

In 2011, our region is facing difficult times: small businesses are hurting, communities are facing foreclosures, job loss and quality of life concerns continue to rise, environmentalists, transportation and infrastructure leaders are seeing declining revenues, developers are struggling to secure financing for important projects, governments on all levels are straining to balance their budgets and our young people are leaving. To address these and a myriad of other challenges, over 1,000 community, business and municipal leaders will reconvene on November 18th at the 10th Annual Smart Growth Summit. This year's theme, "Crisis & Opportunity: Placemaking in a Time of Economic Uncertainty" will address the issues facing our region, but more importantly, we will once again work together to plan and bring solutions forward to all levels of government. The Smart Growth movement and its related families of New Urbanism, sustainability, and green principles continue to provide policies that can assist Long Island when calibrated to address our specific local needs. What has been accomplished by the Smart Growth movement over the last ten years since we have been holding these Summits? 1) Housing in downtowns and around train stations has been approved in 35 communities totaling 4,100 units over the last five years. Notable examples include Glen Cove, Westbury, West Hempstead, Great River, Bay Shore, Riverhead and Patchogue. 2) Proposals for six new or revitalized town centers totaling 12,000 units of housing have advanced in the following communities: Hempstead, Glen Cove, Wyandanch, Islandia, Coram/Middle Island and Brentwood. 3) Three new state bills have been signed into law, as advocated for by the 45 member LI Lobby Coalition, including Complete Streets and the Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Act. 4) Funding has increased for infrastructure including sewers, public transportation, and new opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable technologies. 5) Various community amenities have been brought to LI's downtowns including a rise in community events, arts, culture, theatres and movie nights. In addition there has been an increase in downtown farmers markets and support for small businesses and buy locally campaigns. The 10th Annual Smart Growth Summit will feature networking, a trade show, workshops, technical worksessions, a youth summit and plenary sessions on regional and local issues facing mixed-use development. Sessions will include: downtown revitalization, priority infrastructure, housing in a changing market, financing Smart Growth, Complete Streets, transit-oriented development, Smart Growth and energy, small business development, youth leadership, future of the Nassau HUB, regionalism vs. localism, federal transportation policy, the community as a partner and developing new town centers. John Norquist, former mayor of Milwaukee and president of the Congress for the New Urbanism, will be a featured speaker, along with many other government, environment and business leaders. The 10th Annual Smart Growth Summit is will be held on Friday, November 18th from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Melville Marriott. If you are one of the thousands of Long Island leaders who have joined us in the past, please do so again. If you are new to the event and the Smart Growth movement, please consider partnering with us this year. Either way, we need your leadership, presence and voice to make great places a reality on Long Island during these challenging times. Eric Alexander is the executive director at Vision LI, Northport, N.Y.