Urbanization Notes Chapter 10

Urbanization Notes Chapter 10 Growing Pains in Portland, Oregon • • Senate Bill 100 sets guidelines for land use in Oregon, restricting development to urban areas and leaving open areas largely untouched. In recent years, further measures have challenged Senate Bill 100, arguing that it restricts landowners from increasing the value of their property through development. Lesson 10.1 Land Use and Urbanization Land Cover and Land Use • • • Land cover: Vegetation and structures that cover land. Land use: Human activities that occur on land video 1 &2 Humans change land cover, especially in urban areas. Video. These changes have environmental and economic effects. Urban and Rural Areas • • Urban: Land mostly covered with buildings and roads (includes suburbs) Rural: Any other type of land use or land cover (includes forests, cropland, etc.) Urbanization • • • Occurs when people move from rural areas to cities Cities are not new, but the enormous size of today’s cities is. More than 20 cities have at least 10 million residents. United Nations predicts that the worlds urban population will double again by 2050. The Rise of Cities • During industrial revolution, farms made a surplus of food that allowed them to move to the city. • • • • • • Technological advances created jobs Population in US 1950: 65% urban, now: 80% urban Location, location, location Factors that contribute to the rise of urbanization include population growth and industrialization. Most cities are located near a transportation route such as a large body of water, railroad, or highway. Climate is essential Environmental Costs of Urbanization • • • Pollution: Increased waste, industrial byproducts, noise pollution, light pollution Heat islands: Cities, several degrees warmer than surrounding areas, affect local weather and trap pollutants. Imported resources: Fossil fuels are burned to import food, water, fuel, and raw materials. Environmental Benefits of Urbanization • • • Efficiency: Less fuel and resources needed to distribute goods and services to residents Universities and research centers: Urban areas tend to foster education and innovation. Land Preservation: Dense urban centers leave room for agriculture, wilderness, biodiversity, and privacy. Writing Prompt When a person moves to the city from a rural area to take a job what are some ways the environment is affected? *Describe at least 2 ways the environment is positively impacted and 2 ways the environment is negatively impacted. Lesson 10.2 Sprawl What Is Sprawl? • • The spread of high-density urban or suburban development outward from a dense urban core Often, growth of suburban areas outpaces population growth because suburbs allow more space per person than cities. Primary Contributors to Sprawl • • • Population growth Increased per capita land consumption On average, these two factors are equally important, but one may be more important than another in a specific city. Patterns of Sprawl • Uncentered commercial strip development - In this type of sprawl, businesses are arranged in a long strip along a roadway, with no central community. • • • Low-density single-use residential development - In this type of sprawl, homes are located on large lots in residential areas far from businesses Scattered, or leapfrog, development - In this type of sprawl, residential developments are built far from a city center and are not integrated with one another. Sparse street network- In this pattern of sprawl, roads are far enough apart that areas remain undeveloped, but not far enough apart for these areas to serve as natural areas or for recreation. Impacts of Sprawl • • • • • Transportation: Little to no public transportation, increased commute. Pollution: Increased driving leads to pollution. (increase in oil, salt on roads lead to water pollution: runoff) Public health: May promote inactivity, and by extension obesity and high blood pressure Land Use: Less land left as open space, forests, and farms Economics: Wealth tending to concentrate in suburbs, leaving urban areas poor. Tax money goes to suburbs Lesson 10.3 Sustainable Cities City Planning and Zoning • • • • City planners attempt to design cities that both work well and look and feel appealing. Zoning: Classification of land areas for different types of development and land use An area can be mixed use or single use. Involves restrictions on the use of private land Urban Growth Boundaries • • • A line drawn around a city to separate urban areas from rural areas, with limited permission for development Advantages: Saves 20% in infrastructure costs compared with sprawl; decreases per capita land use; promotes economic development within the city Disadvantages: Does not completely stop sprawl; limits rights of private landowners Smart Growth • • • • • • • Focuses on economic and environmental approaches to avoiding sprawl Builds “up,” not “out” Maintains open spaces by redeveloping existing urban areas, waterfronts, and industrial sites provides variety of transportation options creates housing for all income levels encourages cooperation between citizens and businesses to promote a sense of community strengthens existing communities by promoting redevelopment. “New Urbanism” • Seeks to design neighborhoods that minimize the need to drive • • • Requires good public transportation systems Sometimes impossible due to zoning restrictions Homes, businesses and schools close together Transportation Options • • • Public transportation a key factor in the quality of urban life Buses, subways, trains more efficient, less polluting than cars Cities encourage mass transit with fuel taxes, vehicle taxes, rewarding carpoolers, and encouraging bicycle and bus use. Open Space • • • Provides greenery, beauty, freedom of movement, recreation opportunities Includes parks, playgrounds, community gardens, greenways Regulates climate, produces oxygen, filters air and water, provides habitat Green Building Design • • The goals of a green building are to save energy and resources without sacrificing people’s comfort. Ashland High School near Boston, Massachusetts is a sophisticated green building that saves the school system more than $75,000 a year in energy costs. Urban Sustainability Successes Curitiba, Brazil • • Efficient bus network Recycling and environmental education provided New York City • Plan underway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public transit, plant trees, clean up polluted sites, and improve open space access