Living on the Coast: Smart Growth Tools on the Internet

Each year, more and more people come to the coast searching for a certain quality of life. We want homes near the water, places for recreation and relaxation, and jobs in growing metropolitan areas.

Unfortunately, our appetite for coastal living comes with a number of unintended consequences: sprawling land use patterns, fragmented habitat, degraded water quality, loss of access to public lands, and the displacement of water-dependent industries. How can coastal communities achieve more sustainable development?

"Living on the Coast" links natural resource managers, community planners, and developers to tools, information, and inspiration about smart growth. On this site you will find:

  • Six guidelines for balancing coastal communities' needs for economic growth, environmental protection, and social health and well-being
  • A database with links to techniques that can be used to implement smart growth
  • Resources on smart growth, sustainable development, and coastal management
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