By moving out to areas where planning approvals are faster, rapidly-expanding churches are creating suburban sprawl, according to a recent study from researchers at Ryerson University.
"Fast-growing churches, frustrated with the slow pace of municipal planning, often find themselves pushed into setting up shop in rural areas on the edge of town, where they end up contributing to suburban sprawl, a Ryerson University study has found."
"'They rapidly gobble up prime agricultural land, adding to the sprawl and causing burden on the city's infrastructure,' says the study by Sandeep Kumar Agrawal, an associate professor of urban planning."
"Once the new church is built, the parishioners soon follow, and housing springs up around the building – determining the character of the new subdivision."
FULL STORY: Churches kickstart suburban sprawl, study shows

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