Promoting smart growth in the Puget Sound region is a key strategy for the recovery of the Puget Sound ecosystem. Smart development in urban areas can help protect forest lands, open spaces, agricultural fields, and wetlands, which are home to an integrated and biodiverse web of life. Channeling growth into well-designed, denser urban centers can protect these important ecological areas. 

The Housing Density indicator measures multi-unit housing as a proportion of total new housing development; multi-unit housing, such as apartment buildings, townhomes, or duplexes, consume less land area for each new unit. This enables smart growth and conserves open space through compact development. It also adds diversity to the housing supply, providing a greater variety of unit types to meet a greater variety of household needs. 

This Progress Indicator is in development.