What characterizes a "smart growth" strategy?

A "smart growth" strategy is characterized by a focus on eco-friendly practices and community engagement. This approach aims to create sustainable urban environments that minimize the environmental impact of development while enhancing the quality of life for residents. Smart growth emphasizes mixed-use development, which allows residential, commercial, and recreational spaces to coexist, thereby reducing the need for extensive transportation and promoting walkability. Community engagement is crucial, as it involves local stakeholders in the planning process, ensuring that developments meet the needs and preferences of the inhabitants.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the principles of smart growth. Emphasizing high-rise buildings in city centers can lead to density without addressing sustainability or community needs. Promoting urban sprawl contradicts the goals of smart growth, which seeks to limit sprawl and its associated issues, such as increased traffic and loss of green space. Strict zoning laws may limit development but can also stifle innovation and hinder the adaptive reuse of spaces that are vital for community engagement and eco-friendly practices.