Rutgers Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences [Dept. of Animal Sciences]

1. Urban Sprawl - Background

 

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Introduction

Over the past several decades, land use practices have generated haphazard, inefficient and unsustainable urban sprawl. Urban Sprawl causes increase in traffic congestion and commute times, air pollution, inefficient energy usage and reliance on foreign oil, loss of open space and habitat, unequal distribution of economic resources and a loss in a sense of community.

Aerial Photo of Warren County.
A modern subdivision in Warren County, New Jersey. This demonstrates the farmland-fragmenting pattern of sprawl development typical of rural New Jersey over the last 50 years.Photo: Professor John Hasse, Rowan University

  • New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the county.
  • Between 1982 and 1997 there was a 34 percent increase in the amount of developed land in NJ (the 10th largest increase in the nation).
  • Over 40.8 percent of New Jersey's and is already developed
  • Residents of highest-sprawl areas drive 10 miles more per day than lowest-sprawl areas
  • Ozone pollution levels are as much as 41 parts per billion higher in areas with the most amount of sprawl

What is Urban Sprawl?

Urban Sprawl is often referenced as one of the most important issues facing New Jersey, but what is it exactly? Most people would be hard pressed to define the concept, but "at least they know it when they see it".

Aerial photo of Denver CO.
S / SW Denver, CO metro area from the air, illustrating its massive, sprawling growth patterns from a bird's eye view. Photo: John Fielder

  1. Diffusion of housing and population
  2. Segregation of homes and every day activities of daily life
  3. Lack of strong economic or strong social centers
  4. Disconnectedness of street networks

Changes to the landscape are occurring everyday with significant implications for taxation, quality of life, water quality, agricultural viability, wildlife habitat and social equity. Annually, New Jersey adds 16,600 acres of new development, while losing 9,600 acres of farmland, 4,200 acres of forest and 2,600 acres of wetlands. Impervious surfaces are being created at a rate of 4,200 acres per year. New Jersey is quickly becoming the 1st state to reach full "build-out", which at current rates of development, could occur in the next 40 years.



  1. Increased and insufficient land use and energy consumption
  2. Increased traffic congestion
  3. Negative environmental effects (reduces air and water quality and loss of open space)
  4. Higher public costs for new facilities and services for the newly developed areas
  5. Loss of community character
  6. The decline of inner cites as people leave for sprawled areas

 

Smart Growth

Photo: highway.
Urban Sprawl leads to increased reliance on vehicular modes of transportation as residential areas are positioned further and further from commercial and business areas. Photo: Sierra Club

In New Jersey, "Smart Growth" principals are now being promoted. Smart Growth is a term that refers to well-managed growth that adds new homes and creates new jobs, while preserving open spaces, farmland and environmental resources. This type of growth supports livable neighborhoods with a variety of housing types, price ranges and multi-modal form of transportation. In New Jersey Smart Growth will target the State's resources and funding in ways that will enhance the quality of life for it's residents.



  • mixed land uses
  • compact, clustered community design
  • a range of housing choice and opportunity
  • walk able neighborhoods
  • distinctive, attractive communities offering a sense of place
  • open space, farmland, and scenic resource preservation
  • future development strengthened and directed to existing communities using existing infrastructure
  • transportation option variety
  • predictable, fair and cost-effective development decisions
  • community and stakeholder collaboration in development decision-making

Growth is a necessary part of the country's economy and it has both its positive and negative effects on quality of life. New Jersey is a "home rules" state henceforth the municipalities have the power to make the decisions about local development regulations, including subdivisions and zoning ordinances and comprehensive plans.

Growth management is a planning approach that will address the problems of rapid development, but it is as much as philosophy as it is a collection of tools and techniques.


More Info

Search our Toolkit for a collection of resources that will be valuable in learning more about techniques, best management practices, model ordinances and tools that can be employed to bring the problems of urban sprawl under control.

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