Will We Ever Truly Eradicate Ugly Urban Sprawl?
Urban sprawl is a complex challenge that involves various factors including urban planning policies, community preferences, and economic conditions. While it may be difficult to completely eliminate sprawl, there are several strategies that can help mitigate its effects and promote more sustainable urban development.
Smart Growth and Zoning Reforms
Advocating for smart growth can help communities develop in a more compact and efficient manner. This includes mixed-use developments, higher-density housing, and preserving green spaces. Changing zoning laws to allow for denser developments and mixed-use areas can discourage sprawl. Encouraging infill development—building on vacant or underused land within existing urban areas—can also help.
Public Transportation and Economic Incentives
Investing in robust public transportation systems can reduce dependence on cars, making it easier for people to live in denser areas and reducing the need for sprawling suburbs. Offering incentives for developers to build in urban areas rather than outlying regions can shift the focus away from sprawl.
Community Engagement and Sustainable Development Policies
Involving local communities in planning processes can lead to developments that reflect their needs and preferences, potentially reducing resistance to higher-density projects. Implementing policies that prioritize sustainability, such as green building practices, energy-efficient designs, and environmentally friendly infrastructure, can help create more livable urban environments.
The Reality of Urban Sprawl
As Nathan Hayes puts it, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But will we ever put an end to sprawl? Have you ever driven through Massachusetts heading towards Boston? In 1976, that journey was wall-to-wall towns. Being from Texas, where we have lots of wide open spaces, it was quite jarring. This is a pretty extreme example of urban sprawl, caused by people moving out of Boston or working in Boston but needing an affordable place to live.
As long as people need to work in cities and have a place to live, sprawl will happen. Developers will continue to build utopias wherever land is available, driven by the desire to meet people's preferences and housing needs. In the U.S., with so many jurisdictions having different development standards, developers can find the one that works best for them.
A Case Study: Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon, has a green ring around the city to hem in development. This has made property values inside the city limits extremely high. People then move out to the suburbs, outside the green belt, thereby pretty much defeating its purpose.
Map of Portland Metropolitan Area: The Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) for Portland takes up 7 counties, some in Oregon and some in Washington. The map shows the jurisdiction of the city of Portland in yellow, surrounded by a green ring.
[Here insert a map image of Portland's MSA and zoning areas]
You'll notice that the MSA encompasses 7 counties, some in Oregon and some in Washington. In this map, you can see the jurisdiction of the city of Portland in yellow, in the middle. That's it; that's all Portland has control over. The rest is a free-for-all of competing jurisdictions. Whatever the other jurisdictions want to do, they can, and damn it, Portland can't fairly compete with their ambitions.
The ongoing trends in remote work and changing lifestyle preferences may also influence future urban development patterns, providing opportunities to rethink how cities are designed and expanded.