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What is Sprawl Page 2 of 3 <br /> <br />They protect, water quality by keeping septic systems spaced far apart. <br /> <br />They allow a tract of land.to be developed at urban densities when and if <br />urban services do reach the area. Developing large-lot housing in' <br />unsewered areas may require a very expensive routing of urban services <br />around those large lots at a later time. <br /> <br />Design IS a second Critical component of sprawl. While density determines how <br />many houses are placed within a certain area, design determines what those houses <br />look like and how they fit together with each other and with the surrounding <br />community. In recent decades, design has been dominated by the principle of strict <br />separation of uses th[ough zoning. This is why so many newly developed suburban <br />cities consist of row upon row of nearly identical houses, with distant strip malls, <br />office towers, and parks. Zoning was originally intended to separate people from <br />nuisances and threat8 like smoking factories and land-fills, but has evolved into a <br />tool that reinforces the sense of isolation found in many newer developed areas. <br /> <br />Some planners and architects have begun to rethink the design of communities. <br />Much of this rethinking revolves around updating design concepts oft he, past, <br />when cars were not dominant and people needed to be able to move between home, <br />services, work and recreational areas more easily and without relying on roads. <br />These new principles attempt to mimic the look and feel of.well-established urban <br />neighborhoods in European and 'older U.S. cities. <br /> <br />In addition to providing a more attractive urban environment, these design <br />principles also tend tO create stronger communities. Instead of isolating people in <br />their homes and requiring them to use a car in conducting the most routine daily <br />tasks, these communities encourage walking; they shift the focus of the home from <br />the television room or fenced back-yard, to the front porch; and they create a <br />neighborhood feel by placing services, work places and recreational areas within <br />close proximity. All of these dynamics bring neighbors into frequent contact with <br />one another, so relationships are more likely to be created and maintained with the <br />folks next door. <br /> <br />Some of the common elements to these new design principles include: <br /> <br />· Mixing land uses so that the comer market and town square replace the <br /> strip mall and big-box retail. <br /> <br />· Housing that accommodates people of different incomes and ages in the <br /> same neighborhoods. <br /> <br />· Human scale'architecture that reveals attractive features to the pedestrian. <br /> <br />· An emphasis on pedestrian needs for movement between residence, <br /> employment, services and recreation.. <br /> <br />· Inviting green spaces integrated throughout the community. <br /> <br />· Higher densities that make transit alternatives viable. <br /> <br />Sierra.Club Fact Sheet on Sprawl <br /> <br />The Sierra Club has a lengthy fact sheet on sprawl at their web site. <br />[clic}~ here to_go t0.t:13_e.. Sje:rra ~!ub] They list 6 major injuries to us and our <br />environment caused by sprawl. <br /> <br />http://www. 1000fom.org/what is sprawl.htm i 12/15/2004 <br /> <br /> <br />