Types of Urban Sprawl
Urban sprawl is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a pattern of growth that has occurred in an unplanned, ad hoc manner. However, urban sprawl may be a term simply used to describe an area of land in transition from a rural use to an urban use. There are several types of urban sprawl that can occur. The underlying problems of sprawl are transportation use and the effects on the environment.
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Leapfrog Development
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Leapfrogging occurs when developers jump from one built-up area to another, leaving a large, undeveloped space of land or forest in between. This can occur because of the city's zoning laws. The problem with leapfrogging is that transportation between the two developed areas often becomes dependent on driving rather than walking or biking.
Commercial Strip Development
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Commercial strip developments lead people out of the main city, causing more miles to be used for roads. This, in turn, leads to fast-food restaurants, big chain stores and gas stations lining the roads out of town. Problems occur as large numbers of cars cause congestion and pollution, while the proliferation of retail businesses lead to the destruction of forests and natural lands.
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Low-Density Residential Areas
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Residential subdivisions typify low-density residential areas. In the suburbs, houses are situated on large pieces of land, unlike cities, where houses contain little or no yard area. Suburbs take up large amounts of space and typically, residents are forced to drive everywhere, adding to pollutants in the environment. Suburbanites can cut their environmental footprint by biking and walking when possible, as well as by planting trees on their land.
Single Use Development
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Zoning laws separate land uses. This means that an area of land can be used for only one purpose, such as retail businesses or residential housing. This prevents people from being able to live near commercial establishments. Zoning for single use also encourages leapfrogging, because developers are unable to continue building if the adjacent area is zoned for a different use.
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References
- Urban Sprawl: Pro and Con by Randall G. Holcombe.PERC Reports: Volume 17No.1, Winter 1999.
- Defining and Characterizing Sprawl by Anna L. Haines, Ph.D.The Land Use Tracker,Volume 2, Issue 3,Winter 2003
- Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning, and Building for Healthy Communities.By Howard Frumkin, Lawrence D. Frank, Richard Jackson. Copyright 2004
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
