Conventional development versus managed growth: the costs of sprawl

Area of Science:

• Urban planning and environmental science
• Economic impacts of development patterns
• Resource management in land use

Background:

• Urban sprawl, characterized by conventional development, leads to increased consumption of land and infrastructure.
• Managed growth, also known as smart growth, offers an alternative development approach.
• Understanding the economic and environmental trade-offs between these development patterns is crucial for sustainable land use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of sprawl versus managed growth on land and infrastructure consumption.
• To analyze the impact on real estate development and public service costs in the United States.
• To quantify resource differences between conventional and smart growth scenarios from 2000 to 2025.

Main Methods:

• Utilized mathematical impact models to estimate resource consumption.
• Developed distinct growth scenarios: conventional development (sprawl) and managed growth (smart growth).
• Calculated US estimates for resource differences between 2000 and 2025.

Main Results:

• Sprawl results in a 21% increase in land conversion (2.4 million acres) and a 10% increase in local road lane-miles (188,300).
• Conventional development leads to approximately 10% higher annual public service deficits ($4.2 billion USD).
• Housing occupancy costs are 8% higher ($13,000 USD per dwelling unit) under sprawl conditions.

Conclusions:

• Managed growth strategies offer substantial savings in human and natural resources.
• Implementing smart growth principles can mitigate the negative impacts associated with conventional development.
• This approach demonstrates potential for more sustainable and cost-effective urban development.