ISSUE:

Smart growth will curb out-of-control sprawl and ensure better growth for all New Yorkers.While New York's downstate region is experiencing significant economic growth, the upstate region continues to face stagnant or declining populations and increasing unemployment rates.

Both regions are enduring extensive development, which is causing the rapid loss of open land, overcrowded schools, higher local taxes, and overburdened and diminished services. To address these challenges, the state needs to develop an integrated "smart growth" strategy that will balance economic development needs with environmental protection that benefits urban, suburban, and rural areas.

NYS ACTIONS:

Independent efforts have been made in the executive and legislative branches to advance smart growth initiatives. However, for these to be successful, a comprehensive smart growth development strategy must be adopted that will require an unprecedented degree of coordination between the new governor and the legislature.