Florida's New Urbanist Towns Cause Sprawl

"Across Florida, so-called “new urbanist” plans — from Nocatee to St. Joe Co.’s communities in the Panhandle to Sarasota County’s proposal to allow “villages” in ranch lands east of Interstate 75 — are creating a quandary for their advocates: The developments feature the type of planning and design features that help build real communities. But the new towns are often so far from other urban areas that they’re sure to act as magnets for sprawl in between.... Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, dean of the College of Architecture at the University of Miami and a founder of the new urbanism movement, says it takes more: Without bold regional and state planning for preservation and transportation, new towns like Harmony or Nocatee are little better than traditional subdivisions. New urbanism 'isn’t a fad that can work in isolation,' she says. 'It’s a principle.'" Editor's note: Registration required (free).

Thanks to The Practice of New Urbanism