Albany -- Governor Eliot Spitzer Monday created a Smart Growth Cabinet that will review state agency spending and policies to determine how best to discourage sprawl and promote smart land use practices.

It will coordinate cross-agency activities and develop “smart growth” policies that cater to New York’s unique regional needs.

The Cabinet will consist of high-level policy-makers from various state agencies that have an impact on growth and development patterns, including representatives from the Empire State Development Corporation, Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Transportation, Department of State, and Department of Housing and Community Renewal, among others.

Recognizing both the environmental and economic benefits of smart growth, the Cabinet will be chaired jointly by the Governor’s Deputy Secretary for the Environment Judith Enck and the Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Infrastructure Timothy Gilchrist. The Governor’s Smart Growth Cabinet will hold its first meeting in January 2008.