SUBURBAN EXPANSION IN ATLANTA: "THE CITY WITHOUT LIMITS" FACES SOME. IN: URBAN SPRAWL: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND POLICY RESPONSES

The recent history of Atlanta has been a period of phenomenal and development. However, the rapid development and population growth, which has occurred primarily in outer suburbs of the metropolitan area, has led to some problems: the image and reputation of the city has suffered, development has been very uneven, and federal highway funds have been cut off until a regional transportation plan can be adopted to reduce air pollution. This paper examines Atlanta's suburban history and examines the political-economic sources of its uneven development. Three specific policies designed to reduce sprawl around Atlanta are discussed: (1) the creation of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, which has broad power to oversee all transportation and some land use planning in the 13-county Atlanta region; (2) green space legislation that created a pool of $30 million for counties to use to purchase land that will remain undeveloped; and (3) smart growth development projects. These three policies are aimed at taming sprawl while maintaining privacy, reasonable automobile use and current levels of homeownership. However, each faces opposition or obstacles that may limit their effect on sprawl.