What Is A Sustainable Community?

You have probably heard the phrase “sustainable communities.” It has become somewhat of a buzz word, but you may be wondering what it really means.

According to the Piedmont Triad Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Project, a sustainable community is an “urban, suburban, or rural community with housing and transportation choices near jobs, shops, and schools, through a means that results in livable communities, builds our local economy, and spends the money we have more effectively.”

A sustainable region is a collection of cities, towns, and counties that are joined together by a common geography, economics or other tangible characteristics. Sustainability requires balancing the environment, community, and economic needs of the built and natural environment for present and future generations.

The Piedmont Triad Sustainable Communities Planning Project defines a sustainable region by these characteristics:

• It has jobs that are tolerant of weak economies.
• It has strong, walkable communities emphasizing housing choices
• It capitalizes on individual strengths
• It protects our air and water
• It provides mobility choices
• It uses less energy
• It agrees to act locally but think regionally

 The Piedmont Triad was recently awarded $1.6 million from HUD to create a regional plan that is intended to build economic competitiveness by connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools, and transportation.

Check back tomorrow to learn more about the goals of this project and how the Piedmont Triad is working towards becoming a sustainable region!