Urban Sprawl
What is Urban Sprawl?
Urban Sprawl - the creation of urbanized areas that spread into rural areas.
Residential Land Suburban- areas surrounding metropolitan centers
with low population densities.
Exurban- similar to suburban areas, but are not connected to any central city or densely populated area.
Urban SprawlThe four main concerns of urban sprawl in the
U.S. are: automobiles and highway construction living costs (people can get more land and
a larger house in the suburbs for the same amount of money)
urban blight (city revenue shrinks as people move to the suburbs)
government policies
Problems with Urban Sprawl
Feedback Loop?
Positive Feedback Loop?
Urban blight
Government policies
Land-Use Planning Theory (urban design)
Plan for the needs of the community while safeguarding natural resources.
Scientific, aesthetic, and orderly disposition of land, resources, facilities and services with a view to securing the physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being of urban and rural communities.
The American Planning Association states that the goal of land-use planning is to further the welfare of people and their communities by creating convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient, and attractive environments for present and future generations.
Smart Growth
Mixed land uses create a range of housing opportunities and choices create walkable neighborhoods encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in
development decisions take advantage of compact building design Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong
sense of place Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and
critical environmental areas Provide a variety of transportation choices Strengthen and direct development toward existing
communities Make development decisions predictable, fair and cost-
effective
Federal Regulations 1969 National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA)- mandates an environmental assessment of all projects involving federal money or permits. (Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act)—ensure protection of nation’s resources.
Environmental impact statement (EIS)- outlines the scope and purpose of the project. EIS may suggest alternative approaches and analyzes the environmental impact of each alternative
Environmental mitigation plan- outlines how the developer will address concerns raised by the projects impact on the environment.
Government PoliciesHighway Trust Fund- a federal gasoline tax
to pay for construction and maintenance of roads and highways.
Zoning- a planning tool to create quieter and safer communities. For example, prohibiting the development of a factory or strip mall in a residential area.
Multi-use zoning- allows retail and high-density residential development to coexist in the same area.
Subsidized mortgages- low interest rates offered to people to purchase a home that would otherwise not be able to do so.
Road Patterns
Older Urban
Road Patterns
New Suburban (Urban Sprawl)
Population Growth
Urban Sprawl is fueled by population Growth:
CA now 32 million (doubled since 1960)
Added 6 million in 1980s
Plus 1/2 million/year in 1990s
San Diego County is now ~2,950,000 but is expected to reach 3,850,000 by 2010
So Cal will go from 19 to almost 25 million (2 Chicagos in 20 years)
Growth Options
Pro-Growth:
Rural and poor areas
Want more infrastructure, more jobs, more people
No-Growth:
Upper-Income areas
Concerned about environment, traffic, and NIMBY
Smart Growth
Compromise: economic activity should occur in urban areas and preserve open spaces
Must reverse trend of restricting urban growth and promoting development in less regulated periphery
Higher Density housing/mixed use
Revitalize older communities as more desirable places to live
SOFAR plan
In SD County General Plan
outside boundary 40 and 80 acre minimum parcels
Protect watershed, agriculture, wildlife, scenery, tourism
Watershed is key: plants and open ground clean and filter water as opposed to runoff from asphalt, parking lots, and streets
Endangered Species Act
Purpose: Conserve ecosystems of endangered species and
Prohibit “take” of species, including harm to habitat that impairs the species
Over 200 listed plant and animal species in San Diego
gnatcatcher, tortoise, kangaroo rat, etc.
One of 25 most diverse habitat areas in the world (desert, mtns, climate, etc.)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
If want to develop land must file an Environment Impact Report (CA Environmental Quality Act)
If incidentally “takes” habitat of listed species, must get a permit from the fish and wildlife service
Must specify impacts, how to mitigate impacts, and alternatives so won’t reduce the species
Single-Species Approach
Coastal CA Gnatcatcher
lives in coastal sage scrub
essentially put a brake on all development in CA
Single-Species approach wasn’t working
Needed to protect wildlife while preserving growth
Need a more ecosystem-based approach
Multi-Species Approach
Habitat Islands in an Urban Sea
The greater the area preserved, the greater the number of species possible
So, need to preserve big areas
San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Plan (MSCP)
Allows for regional conservation
San Diego MSCP
Voluntary Cooperation of many local governments in exchange for
Planning Certainty for future development (not species by species)
What about private property rights?
Are not unlimited: i.e. Zoning
short step from housing set backs and small signs to protecting open spaces
Other CA Growth Issues
Electricity Crisis: Suspended some regulations to speed plant construction
Outraged environmental groups and NIMBY homeowners
Zero Emission Vehicles
“Brownfields” and need for Urban School property
Storm Water Regulations
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