Abstract:In the mid-90s in the USA, the smart growth movement emerged, promoting a blended approach to urban sprawl management. This paper aims to explore the potential of smart growth to contribute in the achievement of effective urban sprawl management. To do that, it investigates the incentive-based, regionally-led approach undertaken in the San Diego region. In this example, a regional comprehensive plan which embeds smart growth concepts is currently carried out by an association of governments (SANDAG). Although lacking in land-use powers, SANDAG rests on a wide range of incentives, which should encourage recalcitrant local authorities to put the regional plan forward. The paper concludes that an incentive-based approach can lead to very positive results. However, it can work even better in conjunction with a regulatory framework in order to fill some specific gaps which can occur during the implementation process of the plan. Biographical notes: Claudia Trillo received her PhD in Urban Design and is an experienced Consultant in Urban Planning. She is the Director of the Centre for Development Policies at the LUPT, University of Naples and the Director of the Fondazione Astengo, INU, Rome. As a Lecturer at the University of Ulster, UK, and a Fulbright Senior Researcher at San Diego State University, USA, she developed a wide range of research interests at international level, including smart growth, TODs, sustainable urban design and regeneration, community planning, transfer of development rights, local and regional development. She is currently involved in three EU research projects on sustainable urban regeneration, city safety and security and competitiveness of lagging behind regions. She is also an International Fellow at the SOBE, University of Salford. She employs a trans-scalar approach in order to interpret and manage the planning issues in the framework of the multi-layered governance system.