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05-7-14-PC
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Myth and Fact 25 <br />MYTH FIVE FACTFIVE <br />Many communities employ techniques such as infill and brownfield development <br />to transform unused, abandoned lots into vibrant, revenue-generating components <br />of the community. Some create direct incentives for higher-density development. <br />The city of Austin, Texas, for example, created a program that rewards developers <br />for locating projects in the city’s existing neighborhoods and downtown. Others <br />award points for a variety of attributes, such as transit access, the redevelopment of <br />empty lots, and an increase in pedestrian facilities. By employing standards for fac- <br />tors like open space, dense development, and impact on water quality, communi- <br />ties can facilitate good urban design that preserves natural resources. <br />Although a well-designed higher-density community offers residents a higher- <br />quality environment, poorly planned sprawl does the opposite. Because low-density <br />sprawl gobbles up so much land through large-lot zoning, it ends up destroying the <br />very thing most people moved there for in the first place—the natural areas and <br />farmland. It forces people to drive longer distances, increasing regional air quality <br />problems. The average American man spends 81 minutes behind the wheel every <br />day, while women average 63 minutes. And surveys show that the time spent driving <br />has been consistently increasing every year.46 The national road network, currently <br />at 4 million miles according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, is still grow- <br />ing at an alarming rate, mainly for the purpose of connecting new low-density sub- <br />urbs back to core communities. Along with the water and air pollution, construc- <br />tion of these highways perpetuates the cycle of sprawl, fragments wildlife habitats, <br />and dries up a community’s financial coffers. <br />Increasing density not only improves air and water quality and protects open <br />space but also redirects investments to our existing towns and cities. It can <br />revitalize existing communities and create more walkable neighborhoods with <br />access to public transit and hiking and biking trails. Pedestrian-friendly higher- <br />density developments offer general health benefits as well. Mixed land uses give <br />people the option to walk and bike to work, shops, restaurants, and entertain- <br />ment. The convenience of compact communities may help fight diseases related <br />to obesity.47 Higher-density communities are vital to preserving a healthy environ- <br />ment and fostering healthy lifestyles.
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