When venturing around your city, you probably noticed the long pillars of lumber, the towering scaffolds, and the skeletons of buildings destined for residential use, but what does this all mean? Is there a name for this phenomenon besides the blatant label of “environmental damage”? Yes, and it is much more common than one might imagine.
Urban sprawl is the unchecked growth of cities into low-density housing and roads. According to Samuel Brody, director for the Institute for Sustainable Coastal Communities, characteristics of urban sprawl include increased development of low-density, single family dwellings, increased automobile dependency, dispersed developments, blurred divisions between rural and urban areas, and growth stemming from urban centers. Not only does urban sprawl frustrate homeowners and commuters by increasing transportation costs, but widespread development also leads to destruction of wildlife habitats. Pollution produced from increased automobile usage also leads to reductions in air quality, ultimately hindering the quality of life for the inhabitants.
While factors that contribute to urban sprawl (population growth, income growth, and lower land rates) may seem like underlying causes that are beyond an inhabitant’s power, city dwellers hold the power to conduct small steps that'll have a major impact in curtailing the effects of urban sprawl in their communities. How? By hearing advocates for efficient urban planning in a community, political leaders will be inclined to place more pressure in constructing urban boundaries and practical transportation routes which will ultimately limit urban sprawl. Also, leaders will be more likely to adhere to the movement of New Urbanism, a development approach designed to curb urban sprawl. New Urbanism allows people to easily access public spaces, rely less on automobiles, and inhabit neighborhoods that are not characterized by congested streets. The most important approach to curbing urban sprawl, however, is to educate others in one’s community, which will ultimately pave the way for informed urban planners.
Yarely Aguilar
The Carbon Newsprint
Article sources:
Commenti