United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 5
77 West jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
EPA 905-F-00-003
August 2000
Community Growth
HOW TO AVOID FLOODING,
TRAFFIC CONGESTION, AND
HIGHER TAXES IN YOUR COMMUNITY
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Environmental Quality
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 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, communities can plan their
growth in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.
This brochure discusses some 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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ind Community Growth
What are the Consequences of Sprawling Development?
Air Pollution
Water Pollution-
Flooding
Loss of Habitat
Loss of Wetlan
ids
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 recreation 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 one-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 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 absorb rain water
and protect us from some of the effects of flooding. Rare
flowers and animals may be sacrificed when wetlands are filled
for residential or commercial use, without a clear
understanding of the uniqueness of each area.
'MOTO COURTESY OF NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SCTVeC
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Environmental Quality
Loss of
Prime Farmland
Brownfields
Cost and Taxes
Prime farmland is steadily being lost to 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 $1 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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ind Community Growth
What Can You Do to Help Your Community Grow Smart?
Community
Planning
Infill
Development
Compact
Development
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 work with citizens to develop plans to guide
their zoning, preservation, and development decisions, so that
long-term goals—such as economic growth and environmental
protection—are met.
Infill development uses existing municipal services (roads,
schools, sewers)—instead of building in areas that require
construction of new services-which cut the overall cost of
development. This also decreases the pressure on a community
to increase taxes, increases the viability of public transportation,
and preserves open space.
Compact development 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.
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Environmental Quality <
Mixed-Use
Zoning
Natural
Landscaping and
Drainage
StS-fc+
Street
Design
Multiple Modes
Transportation
Zoning that allows for both businesses and residences 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. They also reduce vehicle travel and give people
greater access to employment, shopping, and services.
Natural landscaping can be used for parks, lawns, and recreation,
to create esthetically pleasing landscapes. Manmade wetlands,
floodplains, 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.
Street design can increase choices for the mode of travel, which
In turn can decrease congestion on collector roads. 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, and
encourage pedestrian use.
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. These goals are best met by mixed-use zoning and
compact development.
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nd Community Growth
Why is EPA
Involved?
EPA is
EPA, as well as other organizations charged with protecting the environment, recognize that land-use
has had a profound impact on the environmental quality in metropolitan areas. Therefore, EPA is
I providing information to communities to help make informed development decisions that restore
and preserve environmental quality.
• 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.
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For More Information
For more Information on comprehensive planning and sustainable urban environments, call
ERA'S toll-free hotline, 800-621-8431.
U.S. EPA Region 5
(IL, IN, Ml, MM, OH,WI)
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3 590
wvwv.epa.gov/reglon5/air/sue
Natural Resources Conservation Service*
2820 Walton Commons West, Suite 123
Madison, Wl 53718-6797
608-224-3040
www.nrcs.usda.gov
Smart Growth Network
c/o International City/County
Management Association (ICMA)
777 North Capitol St., NE., Suite 500
Washington, DC 20002-4201
202-962-3591
www.smartgrowth.org
Sierra Club
1 North LaSalle St., Suite 4242
Chicago, IL 60602-4005
312-251-1680
www.sierraclub.org/sprawl
American Planning Association
122 South Michigan Ave., Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603-6111
312-431-9100
www.planning.org
Urban Land Institute
1025 Thomas Jefferson St., NW
Suite 500 West
Washington, DC 20007-5207
202-624-7028
www.uli.org
Local governments are the primary land-use decision-makers. For more Information, call your local agencies,
regional planning bodies, metropolitan planning agencies, or local zoning board.
*Ask for your local soil and water conservation district.
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