Compact city
A relatively dense urban form that mixes land uses and keeps homes, jobs, services, and public spaces close together.
Urban density: The concentration of people, buildings, or activities within an urban area. Higher concentrations support nearby services and destinations.
Smart growth: A planning approach that encourages compact development, varied housing, and transport choices. Smart growth turns compact form into policies for managing urban expansion.
Vehicle miles traveled: The total distance traveled by motor vehicles over a specified period or by a population. Nearby destinations can reduce routine driving distances.
Garden city movement: A planning movement advocating self-contained communities that combine urban services with green surroundings. Its satellite communities distribute development differently from continuous compact urban growth.
Mixed-use development: Development that combines residential, commercial, cultural, or other uses in a shared area or building. Combining uses places daily destinations close to homes.
Urban growth boundary: A mapped limit intended to contain urban development and protect surrounding land. Growth boundaries can direct new development toward existing urban areas.
Induced demand: The increase in travel that follows an expansion of transport capacity or accessibility. Compact development can shift travel patterns, but road capacity still shapes driving.
New Urbanism: An urban design movement promoting walkable neighborhoods, mixed uses, and human-scaled streets. New Urbanism shares compact-city goals but emphasizes neighborhood design and form.
Walkability: How easily and safely people can reach destinations on foot. Short distances matter most when streets are comfortable and safe to walk.
Infill development: Construction on vacant or underused land within an established urban area. Infill adds homes and destinations without extending the urban edge.