United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 5
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604
EPA 905-F-98-003
November 1998
HOW TO AVOID FLOODING,
TRAFFIC CONGESTION, AND
HIGHER TAXES IN YOUR COMMUNI
U.S. Environmental Protection Ag«rtQ
Region 5, Library (PL-12J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12th Floor
Chicago, 11 60604-3590
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Environmental Qualit
Our Use of Land Affects Our Daily Lives
Do you spend too much time in stop-and-go traffic, not only on the highway but in your own community?
Does new development in your community cause flooding?
Are your local streams and lakes polluted from storm-water runoff?
Does your community struggle to pay for extending and maintaining roads, sewers, and other public facilities
to keep up with growth?
Can you and your family conveniently walk or bike to shopping centers, schools, work, or parks?
Are properties in older areas becoming abandoned as people and businesses move to the suburbs?
Do you and your family have opportunities to enjoy nature in your community?
It may not be obvious, but the way we plan and develop our communities directly affects the quality of our
daily lives. While rapid growth has often produced economic opportunities, our current land-use patterns
have had some unforeseen and damaging consequences.
Many of the problems behind the above questions can be traced to rapid urban development, which has
many positive impacts, such as increased economic opportunity and housing choices. Yet, development has
also caused environmental damage and has exacted social costs, which could have been avoided through
thoughtful community planning. As urban development continues to grow, communities can plan their growth
in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.
This brochure discusses bad effects of unplanned urban development, what communities can do to lessen
the effects, and where community leaders can get more information on sustainable development.
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d
What are the Consequences of Sprawling Development?
Air Pollution
Water Pollution-
Flooding
Loss of Habitat
Loss of Wetlands
Although car exhaust is cleaner than ever before, there are
more cars on the road, and people are driving farther and more
often. Activities, such as shopping and playing tennis are no
longer within walking distance of most communities. The
result—an increased dependence on the automobile for
traveling. And an increase in driving means more air pollution
and congestion. In our cities, cars and trucks cause about one-
third to a half of the air pollution. Traffic congestion (idling
cars) and the start up of the car (cold start) contribute the most
air pollution.
Impermeable surfaces, such as roadways and parking lots increase
the volume of water running into streams and rivers. The results
are often larger and more severe flooding downstream. Floods
are followed by longer periods of below-normal stream levels. Oil
and gasoline from roadways and parking lots pollute streams and
lakes.
Sprawling development may destroy or degrade natural
ecosystems, such as remaining woodlands, grasslands, and
wetlands, and the species that live within them. When large
expanses of natural areas are destroyed, or even bisected by
highways, reproduction among birds and animals is impaired.
As wetlands and forested areas are paved, flooding can become
severe. Wetland and forest areas provide much needed permeable
surfaces for absorption of rain water and to protect us from some of
the effects of flooding. Rare flowers and animals may be sacrificed
when wetlands are paved for residential or commercial use, without
a clear understanding of the uniqueness of each area.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICI
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Loss of
Prime Farmland
Brownfields
Cost and Taxes
Prime farmland is steadily being used for residential developments
and sprawling commercial areas. For example between 1970-90,
Chicago's metropolitan population rose only 4 percent, but it used
up 35 percent more land. Similarly, Greater Cleveland's population
dropped 11 percent from 1970-90, while land for residential,
commercial, and industrial uses increased 33 percent.
Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or underused industrial or
commercial facilities. Prevention, cleanup, and reuse of these sites
offer alternatives to urban sprawl and decay. Brownfields
redevelopment can also encourage job growth and economic
vitality for surrounding communities, eliminate public-health
threats, boost property values, improve neighborhood
transportation and esthetics, and preserve green areas for farming
and wildlife.
While prime farmland requires limited support services, a new
subdivision usually requires additional schools, fire and police
service, road construction and maintenance, and sewer and
water services. Many homes cost more in services than they
pay in taxes. In the Midwest, the average home costs $1.20 to
service for every dollar paid in taxes— compared to 43 cents
for farms, parks, and open spaces. (Sierra Club study and "Living
on the Edge- the Costs and Risks of Scatter Development," by
American Farmland Trust and Northern Illinois University)
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It-
What Can You Do to Help Your Community Grow Smart?
Community
Planning
Compact
Development
Mixed-Use
Zoning
Residents can promote environmental quality and community growth by asking local officials for a copy of
their comprehensive plans and promoting sustainable land-use alternatives at local hearings on specific
development projects.
There are encouraging signs of a change in land-development
practices that use new approaches to community planning
Cooperation has brought together planners, ecologists, public
officials, engineers, and others to invent new strategies that
promote smart or sensible growth—growth that can actually
improve and protect the environment.
Lack of appropriate planning may result in sprawling development,
which leads to adverse effects, such as flooding, higher taxes,
and strains on local police and fire departments. Communities
can develop plans to guide their zoning, preservation, and
development decisions, so that long-term goals—such as economic
growth and environmental protection-are met. Integration of the
economic, environmental, and social aspects of development can
be enhanced through participation of citizens, local officials, and
community organizations.
It can lower infrastructure costs, decrease impermeable surfaces,
and promote a stronger sense of neighborhood. In rural or suburban
settings, compact development also preserves natural habitat and
farmland while maintaining broad patterns of desired density.
It can promote neighborhood cohesion, reduce travel time and
distance, and cut air pollution. Mixed-use neighborhoods also have
easier access for children and the elderly by creating the
opportunity to walk or bike.
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E n^lrolfl
IB-It'
Street
Design
Natural
Drainage
Systems
Multiple
Modes of
Transportation
They also reduce vehicle travel and give people greater access to
employment, shopping, and services.
It can increase choices for the mode of travel, which in turn can
decrease congestion on collector roads and how far people have
to travel for daily activities. This, in turn, results in less air pollution
and more convenience. Increasing connections between streets
will improve access between subdivisions and commercial areas.
Neighborhood streets can be narrowed to reduce both impervious
surfaces and traffic.
Manmade wetlands and natural drainage systems can be used to
absorb and reduce pollution, protect natural areas from
degradation due to storm-water runoff, and provide valuable new
habitat and flood prevention services. Natural and artificial
wetlands, as well as floodplains, can also be used for parks and
recreation and to create esthetically pleasing landscapes.
Making new developments pedestrian-friendly is best
accomplished by using compact mixed-use development with
employment, retail, and residential uses close together.
Communities have many alternatives to driving cars, thereby
lowering auto-dependency and air pollution. These include biking
and using public transportation, such as buses and trains.
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m u ni itv Ci rowth
Efficient Use and Municipal Services
Developing within the context of existing municipal services (roads, schools, sewers) - instead of building
in areas that require construction of new services— will cut the overall cost of development. This also
decreases the pressure on a community to increase taxes.
Why IS EPA EPA, as well as other organizations charged with protecting the environment, recognize that land-use has
Involved? "^ a Pr°f°uncl impact on the environmental quality in metropolitan areas. Therefore, EPA is providing
information to communities to help make informed development decisions that restore and preserve
environmental quality.
EPA IS • Providing information to local governments and metropolitan regions to encourage more sustainable
development.
•Working with other Federal agencies to promote coordination of Federal programs in support of sustainable
development.
•Serving as a clearinghouse of information and resources to provide support to local governments,
developers, engineers, landscape professionals, property owners, and planning organizations.
Individuals can promote environmental quality and community growth by asking local officials for a copy of
the communities' comprehensive plans and promoting sustainable land-use alternatives at local hearings
on specific development projects.
U.S. tnvifonmemal Protection Agency
Region 5, Library (PI-12J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard. 12tt Flor
Chicago, IL 60604-3590 ?
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For More Information
For more information on comprehensive planning and sustained urban development, call EPA's toll-free hotline, 800-621-8431.
U.S. EPA Region 5
(IL, IN, Ml, MN, OH,WI)
77 W.Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
www.epa.yov/region5
EPA's Transportation Partners
401 MSt., SW., Mail Code 2126
Washington, DC 20460-0001
202-260-6830
www.epa.gov/oppe/tp
Smart Growth Network
c/o International City/County
Management Association (ICMA)
777 N. Capitol St., NE., Suite 500
Washington, DC 20002-4201
202-962-3591
wvwv.smartgrowth.org
Sierra Club
1 N. LaSalle St., Suite 4242
Chicago, IL 60602-4005
312-251-1680
illinois.chapter@sierradub org
Environmental Law and Policy Center
of the Midwest
35 E Wacker Dr., Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60601-2208
312-759-3400
wvwv.elpc.org
Urban Land Institute
1025 Thomas Jefferson St, NW
Suite 500 West
Washington, DC 20007-5207
202-624-7028
www.uli org
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