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