•  About the project
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•  Disclaimer

The Smart Growth Project Database is an application that tracks a variety of noteworthy development projects throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region. The database focuses on three types of Smart Growth projects: development near transit, traditional neighborhood development (TND), and conservation subdivisions. These types of development were selected because they often embody several of the core principles of Smart Growth:

• Providing a mix of land uses,
• Creating a range of housing options,
• Preserving open space, farmland, and critical environmental areas,
• Creating walkable neighborhoods, and
• Providing a variety of transportation choices.

This database is meant to serve as a quick and convenient reference tool for planners, local officials, and citizens who are interested in Smart Growth. It includes projects that are proposed, in progress, and complete. The details of proposed developments are subject to change and projects will be updated and added as new information becomes available. The inclusion of any particular project within this application does not serve as an endorsement by DVRPC or its partner agencies. Furthermore, this application focuses on recent developments because they are the most relevant to today's real estate and economic climate.

Total Projects: 203
Developments Near Transit: 173
Traditional Neighborhood Developments: 24
Conservation Subdivisions: 13
Last Updated: March 2020
To submit a project to be considered for inclusion in the Smart Growth Project Database, please email Andrew Svekla at asvekla@dvrpc.org. For more information about DVRPC’s support of Smart Growth throughout the region, please visit www.dvrpc.org/SmartGrowth.

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Andrew Svekla, AICP
Associate Manager, Office of Smart Growth
Office of Smart Growth
Phone: 215-238-2810
asvekla@dvrpc.org

This web page is a public resource of general information. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) makes no warranty, representation, or guarantee as to the content, sequence, accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of any of the spatial data or database information provided herein. DVRPC and partner state, local, and other agencies shall assume no liability for errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the information provided regardless of how caused; or any decision made or action taken or not taken by any person relying on any information or data furnished within.

Andrew Svekla, AICP
Associate Manager, Office of Smart Growth
Office of Smart Growth
Phone: 215-238-2810
asvekla@dvrpc.org

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is often cited as one of the most effective ways of promoting Smart Growth. TOD is compact, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use development within a short distance of a transit stop. When properly designed, TODs can promote multiple transportation options and help reduce automobile dependency. Developments typically must meet a number of criteria related to density, parking, and design to be considered a TOD.

The projects highlighted here are characterized as Development Near Transit rather than TODs because they sometimes do not meet all of the criteria typically associated with TOD. However, these developments are notable for their proximity to transit and the transit- and pedestrian-friendly features they include.

Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) generally describes a mixed-use community that is walkable and compact, with residential, retail, office, and civic buildings in close proximity to one another. These developments get their name from the traditional planning principles that guided the development of many older small towns and neighborhoods around the country. Unlike many conventional suburban developments, TNDs typically include a range of housing types and provide residents with the option of walking, biking, or driving to places within their neighborhood. Some TNDs include a transit connection while others do not.

A number of states have written formal TND ordinances into their planning and zoning enabling acts. The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) includes enabling legislation for TND (Article VII-A: 2000). In New Jersey, the standard method for creating large scale, single-developer, traditional development is through a Planned Unit Development (PUD).

Conservation Subdivision Design (CSD) is a development strategy that can help communities manage their growth and preserve open space and natural areas in residential housing developments. Unlike conventional subdivisions, CSD concentrates home construction on only a portion of a site in order to protect sensitive and valuable open space, habitat, and other environmental resources.

Natural Lands Trust is a non-profit conservation organization that is a leader in the field of conservation design. Natural Lands Trust have developed Growing Greener: Conservation by Design ordinances that have been adopted by many communities in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is often cited as one of the most effective ways of promoting Smart Growth. TOD is compact, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use development within a short distance of a transit stop. When properly designed, TODs can promote multiple transportation options and help reduce automobile dependency. Developments typically must meet a number of criteria related to density, parking, and design to be considered a TOD.

The projects highlighted here are characterized as Development Near Transit rather than TODs because they sometimes do not meet all of the criteria typically associated with TOD. However, these developments are notable for their proximity to transit and the transit- and pedestrian-friendly features they include.