SmartGrowth is best described as which of the following?

• A. Local regulation of growth
• B. Federal program for resource extraction
• C. Private sector-led development plan
• D. State plan for development that preserves natural resources

Answer: (D)

SmartGrowth is a state-level approach to growth management in Maryland that directs development to existing communities and designated growth areas while protecting natural resources like farmland, forests, and waterways. It ties land use to transportation and infrastructure planning to curb sprawl and preserve the environment. It’s not a federal program for resource extraction, nor a private-sector-led plan, and while local jurisdictions implement it under state guidance, the policy itself is established at the state level to guide development and resource preservation.