Our past choices about where and how we grow have led to limited and unaffordable housing, and left too many of us dependent on driving for almost everything.

Smarter land use means more inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable communities: communities that are safe and convenient for walking and biking to daily needs – schools, stores, parks, and jobs; offer a diversity of housing options for people at different income levels; and are served by reliable, frequent public transit.

It’s good for our environment, good for people, and good for business.

Direct new homes and businesses to existing communities with access to transit

Providing more homes and businesses in existing communities with transit supports connected, economically thriving communities. It is also more sustainable and efficient than chasing sprawl development with new and costly infrastructure. Instead, focusing growth in already established communities allows us to welcome new neighbors and means private developers can contribute to modernizing aging infrastructure, like our schools, transit services, roads, sidewalks, and stormwater facilities.

Create compact, walkable, bike-friendly, mixed-use communities

We envision communities where each of us can conveniently meet our daily needs, and have more choices in how we get around. Walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented communities can provide easy access to jobs, services, retail, and community gathering spaces. This creates opportunities for connection and requires shorter and fewer car trips—reducing household transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Preserve rural farms, forests and natural areas

The smart growth approach to land use reduces pressure to convert farms and forests and natural areas to development – which is key in this era of climate change. Instead, smart growth focuses on turning existing and underutilized parking lots and commercial spaces into mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods with homes and businesses. Along with tools like agricultural zoning and conservation easements, this allows us to protect our farms, forests, natural areas, and drinking water supplies.

Latest Happenings

Citizens Campaign for a Green and Sustainable Urban Future for Tysons Corner

ian | September 8, 2008

A group of citizens and conservation groups launched a campaign today in support of a green and sustainable urban future for Tysons Corner. Coordinated by John Byrne, a long-time Fairfax conservation leader, the group has crafted a platform laying out a vision and detailed goals for a sustainable Tysons Corner. The platform is designed to influence the crafting of the new comprehensive plan by the Tysons Corner Task Force, Planning Commission, and Fairfax Board of Supervisors.

Fairfax County: Zoning Ordinance Amendments for Large Retail Sales Establishments

ian | May 21, 2007

The Coalition supports the staff and Planning Commission recommendations to amend the zoning ordinance as outlined in the report. Bringing retail store proposals greater than 80,000 square feet under County special exception helps ensure these projects reflect comprehensive planning, transportation and environmental measures, thus better contributing to the public health and welfare. This allows large retailers to better contribute to the community they serve in partnership, while enhancing the economic viability of the stores themselves.

Testimony in support of the proposed action for Takoma Metro Station redevelopment, Hearing No. 175, Docket R06-5

Ted Van Houten | October 11, 2006

Since 2000, WRN has been involved with the question of what kind of redevelopment at the Takoma Metro station would do the most to enhance transit access, improve the station area and larger community, help meet the need for more housing near transit. Appropriate development at the Takoma Metro station helps accommodate our region’s growth in a way that enhances the Takoma neighborhood while contributing to the solution for our region’s transportation, air and water pollution problems.

DC – A Working Vision for Downtown Ward 7

tom | October 1, 2005

A plan to revitalize downtown Ward 7, based on a series of community workshops in 2005.

DC – Campaign for Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Fact Sheet

ian | January 31, 2005

Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) policies require new and/or rehabilitated residential developments to include housing units affordable to low and moderate-income residents. In exchange, developers may receive non-monetary compensation—in the form of density bonuses—that reduce construction costs.