EPA Smart Growth Charrettes
Various Communities

VMWP is the urban design and architect component of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Smart Growth Technical Assistance Program Team. The EPA Technical Assistance Program provides grants in the form of technical assistance from economic urban design and traffic and circulation specialists to communities faced with growth issues in need to be addressed. The team specifically addresses issues of market positioning and economic development, urban design visioning and plans, pedestrian, bike, auto and transit circulation and parking, and regulations and design guidelines for each specific community.

Within a charette framework, VMWP has provided direction regarding development of community vision plans, downtown land use strategies, neighborhood plans, detailed catalyst site development opportunities, streetscape plans and concept designs, and regulatory recommendations regarding zoning modifications, form based codes and design guidelines, each tailored to the specific community. Throughout these charettes VMWP and the larger team have made educational presentations, developed concepts and promoted smart growth principles surrounding community development including mixed use development strategies, leveraging public investment for private development, integrative circulation and access strategies and sustainable design elements and principles. The overharching goal of the program is to provide direct technical assistance in a detailed fashion with is implementable within the short time frame to address specific community issues regarding economic development, circulation and physical design.