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- Info
When city and country collide: Managing growth in the metropolitain fringe
| Author: |
Daniels, Tom |
| Date: |
1999 |
| Periodical: |
Washington, DC: Island Press |
| Abstract: |
As the nation's population increases each year, the availability of sustainable places to live and work, with high environmental quality, will emerge as a national priority. This book describes and illustrates several ways to achieve more sustainable communities in the rural-urban fringe. The efforts must be long-term, vigorous, openly debated, publicly supported, carefully planned, and implemented by willing, committed politicians. A key ingredient to sustainable communities in the fringe will be to maintain rural industries that provide the open space and rural character that fringe residents cherish. Chapter 1 describes the land-use struggles caused by the growth of the fringe, defines how the fringe differs from traditional suburbs, and explains the need for managing the growth of the fringe. Chapter 2 explores the origins of the rural-urban fringe, what forces made the fringe happen and will continue to affect both the geographic growth of the fringe and the type and location of development within the fringe. Chapter 3 takes a hard look at the obstacles to growth management in the fringe. Chapter 4 presents the comprehensive planning process for fringe communities and counties as a way to decide where future growth should or shouldn't go. Communities then have a choice of pursuing a pro-growth strategy, balanced growth, or a no-growth or slow growth future. Chapter 5 illustrates several design principles for new development in the fringe and describes how new development can fit in with what is already there. Design standards can augment the effectiveness of the comprehensive plan by promoting attractive development that is sensitive to its surroundings. On a larger scale, the design of the entire community helps in the visioning element of a comprehensive plan when citizens can respond to the question, "What do you want your community to look like?" Chapter 6 examines the impact of federal spending programs and regulations on the growth and development of the fringe. Many of these programs have subsidized development. On the other hand, environmental regulations have included standards to protect air and water quality, which are important ingredients in the overall quality of life in the fringe. This chapter suggests changes to federal spending and regulations that would improve the fairness and effectiveness of growth management in the fringe.
Day-to-day decisions affecting growth management are mainly under the control of state and local governments. Chapter 7 discusses state-level spending programs and regulations that affect the growth of the fringe. Chapter 8 reviews the many growth management techniques that have been used in fringe areas.
Chapter 9 looks at regional planning efforts, including urban and village growth boundaries and regional governments. Chapter 10 discusses ways to protect farmland, forestland, and natural areas to help control sprawl. Counties and municipalities have applied a variety of programs to control both the size of the fringe and growth within the fringe. Chapter 11 evaluates the success of these efforts in a series of case studies.
Chapter 12 summarizes the search for managing growth in the fringe and discusses possible futures for fringe areas. Citizens, elected officials, planners, landowners, and the development community should understand the issues behind growth management in the fringe and make informed choices about the future. The fringe is a finite area; successfully accommodating growth requires specific techniques and programs, and careful spending of public and private dollars. With this book, I hope to help communities form strategies to manage their growth and implement those strategies to achieve satisfying long-term results
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