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- Info
A national perspective on land use policy alternatives and consequences
| Author: |
Burchell, Robert W.; Shad, Naveed A. |
| Date: |
1998 |
| Link: |
http://www.farmfoundation.org/1998NPPEC/burchell.pdf
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| Abstract: |
This paper is an analysis of the writings and studies concerning a pattern of land development in the United States termed \'\'sprawl.\'\' Sprawl is the spread-out, skipped-over development that characterizes the non-central city metropolitan areas and non-metropolitan areas of the United States. Sprawl is one- or two-story, single-family residential development on lots ranging in size from one-third to one acre (less acreage on the West Coast), accompanied by strip commercial centers and industrial parks, also two stories or less in height and with a similar amount of land
takings (Ewing).
Sprawl occurs on a micro basis in almost every county of the United States (although it occurs in significant amounts in only about one-quarter of the nation\'s 3,000 counties). Most United States counties that contain sprawl have it in its residential form, i.e., low-density residential development in rural and undeveloped areas. Some counties are characterized by nonresidential sprawl-commercial and industrial development with floor-area ratios less than 0.2 located in the same types of areas (Burchell and Shad). Sprawl occurs, in part, because local governments in the United States encourage this form of development via zoning and subdivision ordinances which, in turn, reflect the desires of the citizens. This type of development is often favored by the general public. |
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