Once every few semesters, I teach a seminar on "Sprawl and the Law." On the first day of the seminar, I ask students what "sprawl" is. After getting a variety of answers, I reveal the truth: most definitions of sprawl involve one of two separate definitions: "Where we grow"- Sprawl as movement from the core to the fringe of a region. "How we grow"- Sprawl as development oriented towards drivers as opposed to nondrivers.
Once every few semesters, I teach a seminar on "Sprawl and the Law." On the first day of the seminar, I ask students what "sprawl" is. After getting a variety of answers, I reveal the truth: most definitions of sprawl involve one of two separate definitions:
"Where we grow"- Sprawl as movement from the core to the fringe of a region.
"How we grow"- Sprawl as development oriented towards drivers as opposed to nondrivers.
Often, the two go together: a car-oriented development 20 miles from downtown is certainly "sprawl" by either definition. But a new urbanist development in an outer suburb (such as Celebration or Kentlands) is sprawl in the first sense ("Where") but not in the second ("How.") On the other hand, in car-oriented cities like Atlanta and Jacksonville, there are car-oriented neighborhoods built in the 1940s and 1950s- some as few as four or five miles from downtown. These places are sprawl in the second sense ("How") but not in the first ("Where").
Policymakers who wish to limit sprawl must adopt different policies to deal with each type of sprawl. Urban growth boundaries and farmland preservation limit suburban growth and thus affect "Where we grow" sprawl- but do nothing to affect "How we grow" sprawl. "How we grow" sprawl, by contrast, is not going to be affected by limitations on overall suburban growth. The most effective way to limit this type of sprawl is through density, diversity, and design- encouraging compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development in city and suburb alike.
Shedding Light on the Creeping Costs of Sprawl
Studies comparing tax revenues from a per-acre perspective show significant gains for municipalities with dense, mixed-use development.
Density and Disorder: The Imaginary Link
A recent article tries to tie public transit and walkability to social disorder — but in fact, sprawling Sunbelt cities like Memphis are as likely to have high crime rates as transit-rich metropolises such as New York and San Francisco.
Commentary: We Need a Return to the Adaptability of Traditional Urban Form
How the rigidity of modern suburban development fails to prepare cities for the future.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars
Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
