Stevens & Associates, P.C. is one of a growing number of firms who recognize that traditional land-use patterns based on compact, pedestrian-oriented development are a viable, and even preferable, alternative to current land use patterns that promote sprawl.  We are dedicated to promoting the development of livable communities that use resource-efficient land use patterns, provide affordable housing, are welcoming to a diverse range of people, are built around a network of safe and pedestrian friendly streets, encourage active street life, and contain varied transportation options. Click here for a link to the Vermont Forum on Sprawl’s webpage, which discusses the implications of sprawl for Vermont communities and presents an alternative vision for the New England landscape. Click here for their definition of sprawl and here for their discussion of Smart Growth.

Another good source for information about livable communities is the Local Government Commission’s website.  Click here to read an article reprinted on their site about the Ahwahnee Principles, a set of planning guidelines for improving livability developed in response to increasing sprawl.  The Principles, written in 1991, are recognized as the foundation of the New Urbanism and can be read here.