ENCOURAGE, THEN COPE: WASHINGTON AND THE SPRAWL MACHINE. IN: URBAN SPRAWL: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND POLICY RESPONSES

Although urban sprawl is primarily a product of local- and state-level decisions, the federal government has also played a role in encouraging low-density development. This paper discusses how federal mortgage, housing, taxation, defense and transportation policies have, since the 1930s, helped lead to the development of strip-zoned commerce along the peripheries of residential subdivisions. The momentum generated by these policies has shaped land use patterns throughout the nation. Although some regulations have been passed to alleviate some of the negative consequences of sprawl, these policies in general have not altered the pattern of land use or transportation. Subjective factors and value judgments mark much of the debate for and against sprawl, but it is clear that the policies of the federal government, often influenced by wealthy growth coalitions, have helped shape current land use patterns throughout the country.