Sprawl is one of the most criticized—and most common—patterns of urban growth in North America. This chapter explains what sprawl is, why it happens, what problems it creates, and what planners can do to manage it.
Sprawl is defined by several characteristics: low‑density development (large lots, few housing units per acre); strict separation of uses (homes in one place, shops in another, offices in a third); leapfrog development (new subdivisions built far from existing infrastructure); and automobile dependence (no practical way to get around except driving).
The chapter traces sprawl's roots in the post‑World War II era. The federal government subsidized highways, guaranteed mortgages for new homes, and allowed mortgage interest deductions—all of which encouraged suburban construction. Zoning codes reinforced sprawl by requiring large lots and banning mixed uses. Retail followed, first to shopping centers and then to big‑box stores surrounded by seas of parking.
The consequences are severe. Sprawl consumes farmland and natural habitat at an alarming rate. It forces residents to drive for every trip, increasing traffic congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. It creates food deserts where residents cannot walk to fresh groceries. It isolates the elderly, the young, and people with disabilities who cannot drive. And it leaves local governments struggling to maintain roads, sewers, and other infrastructure spread thinly over vast areas.
But the chapter is not just a critique—it offers solutions. Smart growth is the leading alternative. Its principles include: mixing land uses; building compact, walkable neighborhoods; preserving open space and farmland; providing a range of housing options; creating walkable streets; fostering distinctive, attractive communities; directing development toward existing communities; and making development decisions predictable, fair, and cost‑effective.
Tools for managing sprawl include urban growth boundaries (like Portland's famous line in the sand), transfer of development rights (paying landowners not to develop farmland), infill development (building on vacant lots within existing cities), and form‑based codes (regulating the shape and character of neighborhoods rather than just separating uses).
The chapter ends with a hopeful note: sprawl is not inevitable. It is the result of policies and choices—and those can be changed.
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