Status Quo Sprawl Lives On in Fresno

Though the city has a plan from 2002 that seeks to undo the negative impacts of sprawl in the city, much of the development scheme remains the same as before, according to columnist Bill McEwen.

"We've got to improve downtown and make it a place that reflects proudly on one of California's biggest cities, the chorus continued.

We must make growth pay for itself, otherwise we'll continue to fall behind on municipal services. And we have to bring more projects to the inner core.

Then, after saying all the right things, the council did what councils have done since Fresno adopted its first growth plan in 1958: it swallowed the jobs and sales-tax pitch. To be specific, it approved the first phase of a 238-acre shopping center that starts with a Target."

Thanks to The Overhead Wire