Urban Sprawl

Urban Sprawl

Urban sprawl, the outward expansion of urban areas often at the expense of rural or undeveloped land. Urban Sprawl can be measured in an index that takes into account density, land use mix, street connectivity and activity centering.


Least Sprawled Cities in the U.S.A.

1

White Plains, New York

White Plains scores a 203.4 on the sprawl index, making it the least sprawled city in the U.S.A.

2

Redwood City, California

Redwood City scores a 194.3 on the sprawl index, making it the 2nd least sprawled city in the U.S.A.

3

Hammonton, New Jersey

Hammonton scores a 150.4 on the sprawl index, making it the 3rd least sprawled city in the U.S.A.


The Effects

Urban sprawl has many negative effects on a city and its surroundings, for example, urban sprawl has environmental effects, such as: habitat loss, loss of biodiversity, and increased pollution. Sprawl also leads to increased driving, which leads to increased car accidents, and vehicle emissions that contribute to air pollution and have negative impacts on health. In addition, the reduced physical activity due to increased automobile use also has negative health consequences. Social effects, such as a decline in social capital, or “the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively.” Economic Effects, such as the increased cost to provide services such as water, sewers, road maintenance, and electricity in less dense areas, given that sprawl increases lengths of power lines, roads, and pipes, and requires higher maintenance costs. Health effects, such as a decline in the quality of life, or "an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns." Longer commutes, lack of green spaces, and diminished sense of belonging in rapidly expanding suburbs can negatively impact mental and physical well-being.


Cause

One of the main causes of Urban Sprawl is that land in outlying areas tends to be significantly cheaper than land in or near urban centers. Developers also often find it easier to obtain approvals in outlying lots, because there are fewer concerned neighbors to hold up the process.


Las Vegas Valley


Las Vegas Valley, Nevada, also known as the Las Vegas Metropolitan area is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States. As of 2020 it has a population of 2.6 million and an area of ~600 mi², which equates to ~4,333 people per mi². Going back in time to 1989, the area had a population of 673,000, and an area of ~117 mi², which equates to a density of ~5,752 people per mi², 24.6% higher than 2020.


Las Vegas Metropolitan Area in 1989(left) and 2020(right).

Compared


And, for reference, Los Angeles, California, has a population of 3.8 million, 46% larger than Las Vegas Valley, and an area of ~466 mi², which is 25% smaller than Las Vegas Valley.


My Solution

The current zoning system implemented into a large portion of Las Vegas Valley is sloppy, primarily using traditional zoning practices, and doesn’t take into account cultural differences, environment, and other important details that should be accounted for when constructing a city.

My solution to this is the implementation of mixed-use development. Mixed-use development can significantly increase density and reduce sprawl in a city by allowing for more efficient use of space. Traditional single-use zoning often results in low-density developments with separated residential, commercial, and industrial areas, requiring extensive travel between them. In contrast, mixed-use development integrates multiple land uses within a single area, which can lead to several benefits, including enhanced quality of life, reduced traffic congestion and pollution, and a more sustainable development that will help the future generations to thrive.


Sources

https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/cities/23043/las-vegas/population

https://www.weather.gov/vef/about

https://www.britannica.com/place/Los-Angeles-California

https://web.archive.org/web/20150924102819/http://www.smartcommunities.ncat.org/articles/sprawl.pdf

https://www.census.gov/glossary/#term_Populationestimates

https://web.archive.org/web/20200515055014/https://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/whoqol-qualityoflife/en/.