2011-01-14
Suburban Sprawl & New Urban Growth
Home
Consumption and the
American Dream: A New
Identity
Suburbia: Excess and
Spectacle
Gov't Structures & the
Perpetuation of Suburbia
Suburban Sprawl and
Automobile dependency
Environmental Impacts of
Automobile Dependency
Compact Cities: The Solution
What is “New Urbanism”
and “Smart Growth”?
Why is “New Urbanism”
better?
“Smart Growth” & “New
Urban” Benefits
Conclusion
Works Cited
…umich.edu/…/what_is_“new_urbanism…
Suburban Sprawl & New Urban Growt…
What is “New Urbanism” and “Smart Growth”?
“New Urbanism” proposes a “smart growth” development plan of
the country’s sprawling suburbs. By restructuring the design, spatial
organization and management practices of America’s suburbs the
pressure on and overuse of the nation’s and world’s natural resources
c an be dramatic ally lightened. “New Urbanism” enc ourages planning
the American suburbs in an ec onomically, ecologically and
environmentally sustainable manner. These “smart growth” practices
c an also offer benefits to the inhabitants of the suburbs, such as the
ability for better lifestyle practices and community involvement
(Beatley 5). “New Urbanism” type of growth foc uses on mixed land-
use development and zoning, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods,
efficient use of natural resourc es, limited automobile dependenc y,
preservation of open spaces, and reinvestment in existing communities
(infill development). Timothy Beatley, in his book, Green Urbanism,
disc usses several “smart growth” aspec ts nec essary to develop
environmentally sustainable suburban areas. Beatley explained that
suburban “smart growth” should include development that exists
within ecological limits, c reate a development analogous with nature,
reduce ec ologic al footprints and rec ognize connections and impac ts
on the planet (Beatley 6). Additionally, Beatley explains the benefits
for the inhabitants of the suburban area that inc lude striving toward
local and regional self-suffic iency to help stabilize c ommunities, and
develop to encourage healthful lifestyles for the suburban population
(Beatley 6).
“New Urbanism” looks to the past for inspiration and seeks to
emulate the efficient older, traditional neighborhoods (Duany et al
183). “New Urbanism” takes 18th and 19th c entury American and
European towns with modern c onsiderations and integrations, such as
the car and public sc hools. The traditional neighborhood is
represented by mixed use, pedestrian friendly communities of varied
populations. The authors of Suburban Nation explain that “unlike the
traditional neighborhood model, whic h evolved organically as a
response to human needs, suburban sprawl is an idealized artificial
system” (Duany et al 6) Further the authors of Suburban Nation
explain the powerful c onnec tion sprawl has to other aspects of
inequality and inability for sustainability; “Even at relatively low
population densities, sprawl tends not to pay for itself financ ially and
c onsumers land at an alarming rate, while produc ing insurmountable
traffic problems and exasperating social inequality and isolation”
(Duany et al 4). Taxation rates are almost always less in the
suburban rings, which can pull businesses and housing outside of the
downtown areas. As the downtown deteriorates, the inner ring
suburbs also lose residents and businesses to fresher, less expensive
locations on a new suburban edge (Duany et al 6). Suburban sprawl
is manifesting itself in American society as complete overuse of
resources and automobile based. The c hoice in America is a diffic ult
one: to allow sprawl to c ontinue unc hecked and without intervention,
or to reshape new growth into a sustainable and beneficial form for
the environment and residents. The nation and suburban homeowners
should endeavor to ensure what gets built on urban fringe is as
environmentally sound, economic ally efficient and socially just as
possible.
Single-use zoning in Suburban Sprawl
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2011-01-14 Suburban Sprawl & New Urban Growt…

This image shows the divide in suburban

Sprawl as a result of single use zoning.
New urbanism allows travel from one
destination to another without using
c ollector roads. Image from the U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/univc ourse/swless06.htm

Chart Represents Difference between Suburban “Standard” and “New

Urban” Design
Street
Standard New Urbanism
Design
Basic layout Dendritic Interconnected grid
Alleys Often Discouraged Encouraged
Design
Typically 25-30 mph Typically 20 mph
speed
Street width Generally wider Generally narrower
Selected for pedestrian
Selected to ensure in-
Curb Radii crossing times and
lane turning
vehicle types
Designed to discourage
Intersection Designed for efficiency,
through traffic, for
Geometry safety, vehicular speed
safety
Tree,
Strictly controlled Encouraged
Landscaping
Fewer, tall, efficient More, shorter, closely
Street Lights
luminaries spaced lamps
4-ft minimum width, 5-ft minimum, within
Sidewalks outside right of way or ROW and parallel to
to indulate street
Building
15 ft or more No minimum
Setbacks
Parking Off-street preferred On-street encouraged
Developed from a
Trip Developed from a sum
reduced need for
Generation of the users
vehicular trips
From the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Housing
Administration Website on “Neo Traditional Neighborhood Design”
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/univc ourse/swless06.htm

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