Will New Development Make it Better, or Worse?

The tradeoff from suburban, auto-oriented living to denser, urban-style life is one example cited by Norris of the need to explain the compensation that will balance out the loss:

"For example, in my town many people would claim that downtown has more noise and artificial light, less convenient access to nature, a greater threat of crime, and less convenient parking for guests. To compensate for these perceived inconveniences, the city offers more convenient access to jobs and entertainment options while providing a more vibrant environment. Are downtown residents in your community adequately compensated?"

Smaller yards and smaller homes also have payoffs that balance the losses, explains Norris.

Thanks to Hazel Borys