New Urbanist experts hold New York City up as a fine example of the diversity and vitality added by high population density, a concept which many developers and residents cannot fathom. The city's weak points are poor planning due to fragmentation and lack of space and planning boards more concerned with the approvals process than the overall effects of their efforts.

"Something has happened in the United States over the last few years," said Andres Duany, architect and planner with Duany Plater-Zyberk &Co. "The term 'growth' has acquired a negative connotation. Developers are encountering friction--people are categorically against growth. Although the concept of smart growth has taken off in the popular imagination, it has been dumbed down to fit on a bumper sticker." Duany went on to say that the two majorly hyped tenets of smart growth--keep growth in urban boundaries and along transit lines--are overly simplistic. "An enormous number of well intentioned people will sacrifice their political lives for something that's untenable."

This year's congress, titled "From Neighborhood to Region," will focus on four aspects of urban development: the region, the neighborhood, design and codes. Local speakers will include Kent Barwick of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and Darren Walker of the Abyssinian Development Corporation. Participants yesterday learned the basics of New Urbanism in a concentrated one-day course aimed at those who must make urban planning decisions.