Urban Sprawl and New Urbanism: Understanding Urban Development and Sustainable Growth - Pr, Study notes of Urban Sociology

Download Urban Sprawl and New Urbanism: Understanding Urban Development and Sustainable Growth - Pr and more Study notes Urban Sociology in PDF only on Docsity! Governing the Metropolis PSCI 4020 - Urban Politics Defining Urban Sprawl Widely used to refer to low-density residential development on the fringe of urban areas. More precise definitions define it as development that features two or three dwellings per acre—or less. PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis2 Table 3 — Per Capita Land Consumption in the USA's Top Sprawlers (1990) Fraction Urbanized Area of Acre Per Resident 1. Atlanta, GA 0.337 2. Howsten, TX 0.259 3. New York City. WY-NI 0.118 4 Washington, DC-MD-VA 0.180 5. Philadelphia, PA-NT oO.177 6. Los Angeles, CA 0.110 7. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX 0.289 8. Tampa-Saint Petersbure- 0.243 Clearwater, FL 9. Phoenr, A” 0.237 10. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MIN 0.327 Source: OS. Census Bureaw data PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis  Table 4 —Urbanized Areas that Stopped Per Capita Sprawl These areas reduced per capita land consumption but had much Overall Sprawl (1970-1990) % Growth in Urbanized Area % Growth in Population Per Capita (alphabetical order) Total Land Growth Land Area Consumption -5.9% Corpus Christi, TX 19.3% 6.9% -15.1% Dallas-Fort Worth. TX 34.8% 58.7% -23.6% Ft. Lauderdale- 54.1% 101.7% Hollywood-Pompano, FL -2.7%0 Fresno, CA 67.8% 72.5% -15.7% Honolulu. HI 20.6% 43.0% -35_3% Las Vegas, NV 90.7% 194.6% -8.4% Los Angeles, CA 25.1% 36.5% -13.2% Miami-Hialeah, FL 36.3% 57.0% -28.3% Oxnard-Ventura, CA 40.9% 96.4% -17.7% Phoenix, AZ 91.3% 132.4% -25.9% Riverside-San 48.6% 100.5% Bermardino. CA -21.0% Sacramento, CA 73.1% -16.3%0 Salt Lake City, UT 64.7% -7. San Diego. CA 96.0% -12.8% San Jose, CA 40.0% -3.5% Stockton, CA 63.4% -18.7% West Palm Beach-Boca 176.4% Raton, FL Searce: TIS Cancun: Rureci Data PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis  Table 5 — Sources of Sprawl in USA's Top Sprawling Urbanized Areas % of Total % of Total Sprawl Sprawl Urbanized Area related to related ta GROWTH IN POPULA- PER CAPITA TION LAND GROWTH CONSUMP- was: TION was: 1. Atlanta, GA 64% 2. Houston, TX 70% 3. New York City. 100% 0% NY-NI 4. Washington, DC- 33% 47% MD-VA 5. Philadelphia, PA- 89% 11% NI 6_ Los Angeles, CA 0% 100% 7. Dallas-Fort Worth, 0% 100% TX 8. Tampa-Saint 15% 85% Petersburg- Clearwater, FL 9. Phoenix, AZ 0% 91% * 10. Minneapolis-St. 49% 51% Paul, MN Source: U.S. Census Bureau data “ddjusted from 100%: see Appendix F for explanation. PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis Metropolitan Fragmentation Enables Sprawl Metropolitan areas are not governed by a single entity. Metropolitan areas are a maize of local governments. Cities Counties Special Districts. Cities in metropolitan areas act to protect the values of their residents—not the interests of the metropolitan area as a whole. Lack of area wide planning opens the door for sprawl- . PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis10 Early Reformers Sought Consolidation Reformers argued that consolidated governments would improve services and reduce costs. Consolidated governments could plan for the entire metropolitan region. A few successes. Nashville-Davidson County in Tennessee. J k ill D l C i Fl idac sonv e- uva ounty n or a. Miami-Dade Metro in Florida. Baton Rouge-East Baton Rouge Parish in Louisiana 2001 consolidation of Louisville-Jefferson County in Kentucky PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis11 Most of Consolidation Efforts Failed When Taken to The Voters Central cities rejected it. Suburbs rejected it. PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis12 Tragedy of the Commons Why does freedom in a commons bring ruin to all? Benefits are accrued by individuals. Costs are accrued collectively (i.e., by all). How can we prevent the tragedy of the commons? Hardin says by coercion. “The only kind of coercion I recommend is mutual coercion, mutually agreed upon by the majority of the people affected.” PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis15 How Does Urban Sprawl Fit The Tragedy Of The Commons? Protection of open space (undeveloped land) is the commons. Continuation of urban sprawl is a threat to that commons. Danger is that we will “pave paradise and put up a parking lot” (as Joni Mitchell put it). h // b / h? Z MEPk6fttp: www.youtu e.com watc v= g vpg The decisions to continue to build on the fringe are calculated in terms of individual benefits. The cost—encroaching on the natural environment—is a collective cost that we are not required to confront. PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis16 New Regionalism Agenda Interjurisdictional agreements to promote better land use planning. Taxing arrangements to control undesirable behavior. Restraints on outward expansion. PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis17 The Metro’s Description of the Urban Growth Boundary “The boundary controls urban expansion onto farm and forest lands. Land inside the UGB supports urban services such as roads, water and sewer systems, parks, schools and fire and police protection that create thriving places to live, work and play. The UGB is one of the tools used to protect farms and forests from urban sprawl and to promote the efficient use of land public facilities and , services inside the boundary.” PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis20 Metropolitan Council for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Urban Region Metropolitan Council created in 1967 with mainly planning authority. In 1994, the Metropolitan Council became an operating government providing sewers and transit, and running the regional airport. A coalition of suburbs joined with Minneapolis leaders in hi f d d M li C ilpus ng or expan e etropo tan ounc . An ambitious tax sharing plan proposed for the metropolitan area was defeated by Governor Jesse Ventura. PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis21 Other Vehicles for Metropolitan Cooperation Urban County. Interlocal contracting. Special district governments. PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis22 Maryland’s Ten Principles of Smart Growth 1. Mix Land Uses 2 Take advantage of compact building design . 3. Create housing opportunities and choices 4 Create walkable communities . 5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place 6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis25 Maryland’s Ten Principles of Smart Growth 7. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities 8. Provide a variety of transportation choices 9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost- effective 10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions. Source: Maryland Department of Planning PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis26 New Urbanism New urbanism focuses on how design and architecture can be used to revive community and reduce reliance on the automobile. New urbanism proposed a new vision of city life that seems to be based on old urban neighborhoods. It rejects the single-use zoning that has shaped most d A i i imo ern mer can c t es. See clip from CBS News: http://www youtube com/watch?v=LRrl7LwNUtw. . PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis27 Principles of New Urbanism Traditional Neighborhood Structure Discernable center and edge Public space at center Importance of quality public realm; public open space designed as civic art Contains a range of uses and densities within 10-minute walk Transect planning: Highest densities at town center; progressively less dense towards the edge. Increased Density More buildings, residences, shops, and services closer together for ease f lki bl ffi i f i d d o wa ng, to ena e a more e c ent use o serv ces an resources, an to create a more convenient, enjoyable place to live. PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis30 Principles of New Urbanism Smart Transportation A network of high-quality trains connecting cities towns and , , neighborhoods together Pedestrian-friendly design that encourages a greater use of bi l ll bl d d lki d il cyc es, ro er a es, scooters, an wa ng as a y transportation PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis31 Principles of New Urbanism Sustainability f Minimal environmental impact o development and its operations Eco-friendly technologies, respect for ecology and value of natural systems Energy efficiency Less use of finite fuels More local production More walking, less driving Quality of Life Taken together these add up to a high quality of life well worth living, and create places that enrich, uplift, and inspire the human PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis32 spirit. Benefits of New Urbanism: Municipalities Stable, appreciating tax base Less spent per capita on infrastructure and utilities than typical suburban development due to compact, high-density nature of projects Increased tax base due to more buildings packed into a tighter area Less traffic congestion due to walkability of design Less crime and less spent on policing due to the presence of more people day and night Less resistance from community Better overall community image and sense of place Less incentive to sprawl when urban core area is desirable Easy to install transit where it's not, and improve it where it is Greater civic involvement of population leads to better governance PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis35 Benefits of New Urbanism: Business Increased sales due to more foot traffic & people spending less on cars and gas More profits due to spending less on advertising and large signs Better lifestyle by living above shop in live-work units - saves the stressful & costly commute E i f l i k ti d t l i it d conom es o sca e n mar e ng ue o c ose prox m y an cooperation with other local businesses Smaller spaces promote small local business incubation Lower rents due to smaller spaces & smaller parking lots PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis36 Is Sprawl Inevitable? Robert Bruegmann, Sprawl: A Compact History (2005) Argues that sprawl (defined as outward expansion of cities) has always been taken place. Outward expansion is associated with rising incomes. Bruegmann writes, “if sprawl turned out to be a long- standing feature of urban development worldwide, it would suggest that stopping it involves something much more fundamental than correcting some poor American land-use policy”. PSCI 4020 - Governing the Metroplis37