Development, or no development? Nathan Norris writes that untouched landscapes always rate highly in comparison to development proposals, so it is important to use visual tools that can help quantify the tradeoff and find ways to compensate.
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
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Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
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