Teaching and promoting Smart Growth has become a top priority at 1000 Friends of Minnesota.  We recognize that growth in our state is going to happen; however, we don't want that to be out-of-control growth.  Rather, we want to seek development patterns that are economically sound, environmentally responsible, and socially just.  This approach emphasizes partnerships among local governments, developers, farmers, business leaders, social justice advocates and environmentalists. Our work includes: Smart Growth Network Smart Growth Design Awards Smart Growth Conferences Minnesota Businesses for Balanced Growth Managing Growth in the Growth Corridor Report (in Adobe .pdf form) Growing Smart in Minnesota Report Taxing Our Strengths Report 1997 Community Based Planning Act Reviewing Metropolitan Council Documents
What is Smart Growth?	10 Principles of Smart Growth	What is Sprawl?

Sprawl is the opposite of Smart Growth.

Sprawl is out-of-control and unplanned growth.  We, naturally, oppose sprawl.  Sprawl is growth that happens outside of existing infrastructure.  Sprawl requires infrastructure systems to be built after the fact when such construction is much more costly.  Sprawl consumes important open space, green space, wildlife habitats, agricultural land and cherished scenic views.  Sprawl causes even more serious environmental damage -- polluted runoff from impermeable surfaces and increased air pollution from auto emissions.  Sprawl is growth into areas where public transportation can not reach.  Sprawl rarely includes truly affordable housing units.  Sprawl is often of a low density nature and must be subsidized by taxpayers because new, expensive infrastructure such as roads, sewer systems and water services need to be provided.  These systems are always more expensive than in higher density developments. Go to "What is Sprawl?"

Minnesota's property tax system encourages sprawl.  

Our property tax system provides incentives for larger lot, higher priced residential homes.  This is an important barrier to providing affordable housing and creating more compact development patterns.  Two financing tools, tax increment financing and tax base sharing, have attempted to address sprawl, but are insufficient to slow its effects.  1000 Friends of Minnesota has recently published a study of Minnesota's property tax system.