Recent Study Isn't Smart

A recent study on urban development's effects on water supply demonstrates how far the anti-development camp will go to manipulate public sentiment.

"Paving Our Way to Water Shortages," a collaboration of the Natural Resources Defense Council, American Rivers and Smart Growth America suggesting that growth contributed to the drought plaguing parts of the country, was widely reported in the media. But the facts in the report do not support the conclusion.

Perhaps the most unfortunate thing is that the study encourages and sets a tone of divisiveness. Those of us who build the nation's homes certainly believe that communities should adopt sensible smart growth policies promoting higher-density development. We know it makes sense to encourage mixed-use development that puts homes closer to jobs, shops and services. And it makes sense to preserve open space.

Rather than wasting time and money on "studies" that generate ill will and pit one element of the community against another, I urge these groups to focus on achieving something we all can agree on - smart, sensible growth.