Recently, the Cascade Land Conservancy, the Urban Land Institute Seattle and Sumner development firm Investco hosted a series of informational meetings with local media to discuss partnerships formed to encourage sustainable development in master-planned communities and high-density urban development. During sessions, officials from the three organizations spoke about the overall effects of sustainable development on transportation systems, the environment, the economy and overall quality of life in the South Sound.

Ideally, self-sustaining, master-planned communities will decrease residents reliance on driving on clogged roadways because they can work where they live. The same concept holds true for urban living, said Kelly Mann, executive director of Urban Land Institute in Seattle. Because of high demand for open space, parks and trails, these master-planned communities typically have a greater ratio of green space than traditional sub-divided lots.

With population projections in the Puget Sound reaching 1.7 million by 2040, Investco, along with the Cascade Land Conservancy and the Urban Land Institute Seattle, advocated for increasing density allowances for master-planned communities, particularly in Pierce County.

Investco President Martin Waiss said there needs to be a shift in thinking about development in order to be able to accommodate population growth without causing sprawl outside Urban Growth Areas. All three entities are working to further the trend.