Though social equity is a critical part of sustainable development, local municipalities often focus more on environmental protection and economic prosperity than on equity when making land use decisions. The authors of this article examine land use decisions in Richland County, South Carolina that appeared to address growth pressures without taking equity issues into account. The authors also present a conceptual framework for addressing the tension between the three fundamental principles, and then conclude by discussing ways to apply this framework to help bridge the gap between smart growth and social equity
