Title: What’s to Become of Small Towns? | RRM
Headings: What’s to Become of Small Towns?
What’s to Become of Small Towns?
Acting Regionally
Plan Locally

Content: Ask anyone on the street, or in the planning profession, and the answers will range widely. I’ve lived or worked in towns ranging from 5,000 to over 65,000 that were clearly considered “small towns.” So, I would suggest that even small towns can be considered urban in character, which supports my premise that city-centered growth can be a model for sustainability, even for small towns. From my own intuitive and practical life experiences, small towns will continue to attract a portion of the population as a lifestyle choice and as such we small town planners should double down on the effort to protect the very essence of what makes small town living desirable. But doing this takes diligence and patience. City-centered growth is a planning paradigm that recognizes the benefits of concentrating populations to leverage efficiency, functionality and proximity of services in large metropolitan areas. This model for growth virtually precludes small town living as a viable growth option. Nonetheless, the principles of city-centered growth can be applied to assist small towns in eliminating sprawl, preserving agriculture and natural resources, and improving mobility and walkability. However, there are challenges: Small towns have limited resources, and the promise of assistance from state and federal grants is quickly fading.