An artist is able to take what we take for granted, and see what the vision and creativity that transforms it into a masterpiece.

(upbeat music) This park, the buildings surrounding us, the businesses along the waterfront, we see them every time we stroll through here.

But who is the artist that had the vision to transform these resources into a living, working piece of art?

That's the job of an urban planner.

An urban planner works with the focus on aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability.

To take the potential of a city and bring it to reality.

Helping it grow while preserving nature and wildlife, supporting businesses, and helping people like me enjoy all that the city has to offer.

We're focused on smart growth, and the intersection between urban planning and environmental science, today on "Spotlight Earth."

(reflective music) What if you could design your ideal city?

Would you have a skate park downtown?

Bike lanes?

Lots of green space?

Designing it in a smart way is a way to get the most out of your city for generations to come.

Smart growth is a term used to describe a set of citizen-focused approaches to urban planning and development, that embrace environmental sustainability, and serve as an antidote to sprawl.

The goals of smart growth include reducing the need for individual transportation.

Which helps with the second goal of reducing air pollution.

Other goals include allowing citizens to have a say in planning decisions, reducing waste and maximizing waste disposal, minimizing sprawl...

Which is the spread of urban development to unused land near a city and adding green spaces.

An important strategy for smart growth is mixed use.

Mixed use means that communities are a mix of housing, businesses, and public services, so that people do not have to travel far distances to reach these resources, which reduces traffic and cuts down sprawl.

(gentle music) Older cities of the world that came into existence before the automobile, are inherently mixed use.

With neighborhood grocery stores, restaurants, businesses, and green spaces all within walking distance.

(gentle music) Innovative modern city planners are leaning into these timeless concepts now.

Residential homes in mixed use planning usually include houses, townhouses, apartments and studios at a variety of price points, to make sure there are opportunities for people at different income levels to find suitable housing.

(gentle music) Smart growth is happening right here in Virginia.

In Arlington, two smart growth masterpieces are Shirlington and the Rosslyn-Ballston Metro Corridor.

These efforts are nationally-renowned.

And have even been the subject of a documentary film.

My "Spotlight Earth" co-host, Hales, is in Arlington to find out how this forward-looking part of Northern Virginia has had so much success.

Thanks, Michael.

Yes, Arlington is booming.

Spurred on by smart growth, this community just across the Potomac River from D.C., has attracted a young, talented population by offering the best options in working, living and playing.

(gentle music) As a Planning Director for Arlington County, I get the opportunity to work with a lot of amazing staff in our Planning Division, which is comprised of the current planning team, the comprehensive planning team and urban design.

And we work with many community stakeholders to develop a vision for Arlington, and help arrive at the strategies and actions needed to realize that vision.

How do you work with different groups to accomplish your goals here?

Well in developing long-range plans and visions for different neighborhoods in Arlington, we'll obviously work with residents.

In all of our neighborhoods, we work with developers and business interests who often times will be most involved in implementing vision.

And we work with a lot of other community stakeholders, and members of advisory commissions to do the jobs that we do.

I know Arlington is well-known for its smart growth initiatives, especially in Shirlington Village, And Rosslyn-Ballston Metro Corridor.

Can you tell us a little bit more about these initiatives?

Arlington's recently received numerous awards for the smart growth initiatives.

Those of us who have followed our predecessors certainly tried to carry on the work, and the big vision that was established in, not just in Rosslyn-Ballston, but here in Shirlington and other neighborhoods, as well.

(gentle music) But, one of the important elements of our current work is really looking at opportunities to direct and guide additional development to those neighborhoods that we believe can, and should accommodate it.

Either because there are aging buildings that can be repositioned, or redeveloped to accommodate new uses, or more uses.

As well as, these are neighborhoods that have the infrastructure either currently in place, or plans for expanded infrastructure to better accommodate more homes, more businesses, retail shops, and other amenities.

How can young people get involved, and influence their community leaders to get involved in smart growth?

As students who live in the community, certainly have an opportunity to follow various studies and planning efforts that the county is working on.

And they have the ability to really figure out how they, or their families might be affected by those efforts, and to have a say.

They can come out, they can speak at public hearings.

They can talk to their community leaders, and really bring not just problems, or challenges, that they're experiencing, but ideas and solutions, as well.

(gentle music) So that's it from here in Arlington, where growth has done really well.

Let's head back to the studio to wrap things up.

(upbeat music) It's important to remember the communities we live in don't just magically appear.

Careful thought and planning go into developing them.

Citizens like you can get involved, to have a say in what your county, town or city looks like.

While you're strolling the streets, ask yourself, "What does smart growth look like to me?"

Thanks for watching.

See you next time on "Spotlight Earth."

(gentle music)