Land Use Development: Proper Planning Creates Smart Growth, Prevents Sprawl

The proliferation of sprawl development patterns across the United States causes several problems such as degradation of forests, farmland, and natural resources, plus the declining health of central cities. Sprawl is a well-documented phenomenon among environmentalists, politicians, taxpayers, and others. Many alternative “smart growth” solutions exist to mitigate the damages of sprawl. Government focus on more restrained development patterns such as traditional urban neighborhoods, and other solutions exist, and are waiting to be implemented. This article reviews municipal efforts in New York in the application of comprehensive smart growth methods