Green Communities
Benefits include increased access to jobs, creation of jobs, lower infrastructure costs, less expensive public services, higher property values, increased crop yields and protection of wildlife and green spaces.
Green communities come in all shapes adn sizes, rural and urban. They embrace smart growth and public transportation, and they protect land for agriculture and recreation. The benefits of green development are substantial. For instance, green development can result in considerable economic benefits derived from walkable downtowns to efficient transportation. For example, Lodi, California launched a green development project that increased tax revenue by 30%, created 60 new businesses and reduced vacancy from 18% to 6%.[1 Lets Talk Business - Issue 83, July 2003. ] Other benefits include increased access to jobs, creation of jobs, lower infrastructure costs, less expensive public services, higher property values, increased crop yields and protection of wildlife and green spaces. Additionally, public transportation reduces our dependence on foreign oil, reduces traffic congestion and decreases harmful pollutants. Green communities offer their residents a plethora of benefits, ranging from economics to aesthetics, and as a result become more attractive places to locate a business, raise a family or take a vacation.
Land Conservation
Virginia's lands need protection and preservation now more than ever. Successful land conservation requires action and initiative at all levels that is geared toward the protection of a diversity of lands.
Transportation
VCN works to link land use planning with transportation, acknowledging changing development forces such as urban revitalization, affordable housing, and the increasingly prohibitive expense of sprawl.
Wildlife
Virginia needs to protect the ability of wildlife enthusiasts, hunter, and fisherman alike to have access to the state's bounty.