THE COSTS OF THE COSTS OF SUBURBAN SPRAWL SUBURBAN SPRAWL AND URBAN DECAYAND URBAN DECAY

What is Suburban Sprawl?What is Suburban Sprawl?

Sprawl is unsustainable development that wastes tax dollars, destroys farmland and open space, and neglects existing infrastructure and

community resources.

Schools

Workplace

Shops

Recreation

Home

Everything is a Drive Away

Suburban parents spend17 full days a year

behind the wheel, more than the average parent spends dressing,

bathing and feeding a child.

Source: Surface Transportation Policy Project

Suburban parents spend17 full days a year

behind the wheel, more than the average parent spends dressing,

bathing and feeding a child.

Source: Surface Transportation Policy Project

About Grow Smart RIAbout Grow Smart RI

Statewide non-profit organizationStatewide non-profit organization Diverse coalition of interestsDiverse coalition of interests

MissionMission

Promote patterns of development that……Promote patterns of development that……

- Revitalize city & town centers- Revitalize city & town centers

- Preserve historic, cultural and natural resources- Preserve historic, cultural and natural resources

- Expand economic opportunity for all Rhode Islanders- Expand economic opportunity for all Rhode Islanders

How We Get it DoneHow We Get it Done

Research / EducationResearch / Education Policy Reform / AdvocacyPolicy Reform / Advocacy Building municipal capacityBuilding municipal capacity

The Costs of Sprawl The Costs of Sprawl and Urban Decay and Urban Decay in Rhode Island in Rhode Island

Published December, 1999

Rhode Island Growth TrendsRhode Island Growth Trends1980-20001980-2000

Population growth = 6.9%

Housing growth = 17.2%

Motor vehicle growth = 16.4%

Increase in developed landIncrease in developed land1961-19951961-1995

Core: 54% increaseRing: 122% increaseSuburb 169% increaseRural 205% increase

Costs of SprawlCosts of Sprawl Loss of farms and forestland

– 1964-1997: farmland reduced by half– Potential additional loss by 2020:

3,100 acres farmland 24,000 acres forestland

Infrastructure Costs– Roads– School facilities– Utility lines

•Social Costs

Poverty in Core CitiesPoverty in Core Cities

Loss of jobs from core citiesLoss of jobs from core cities

COVERED PRIVATE JOB GROWTH IN URBAN CORE AND NON-CORE AREAS, RHODE ISLAND, 1980-1997

158,035162,667

165,018

212,684

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

1980 1997

Urban Core

Non Core Area

FIG. 10.2

URBAN CORE

NON-CORE*

*Including urban ring, suburban and rural areas.

Fiscal Impacts on Fiscal Impacts on Urban CentersUrban Centers

Lost Tax Revenue– Estimated loss in assessed valuations:

$1.3 billion– 1998: 934 acres of vacant lots in

Providence

8% of citywide acreage– 1999: 560 vacant buildings in Providence

Urban Fiscal ImpactsUrban Fiscal Impacts

Reduced property values

Increasing tax rates

Fiscal Impact on suburban Fiscal Impact on suburban and rural townsand rural towns

Increased taxes due to:– Increased cost of community services due to

amount of growth– Increased cost of community services due to

pattern of growth

Other ImpactsOther Impacts

Increased motor vehicle usage = negative environmental impacts

Increased storm water runoff from roads and parking lots

Increased auto emissions

Calculating the CostsCalculating the Costs Current pattern = net gain of 25,000 new

housing units from 2000-2020

34,000 units -- ring/suburban/rural - 9,000 units – urban

25,000

(RI Statewide Planning Projections)

Alternative Core Development pattern

8,750 new units in Urban Core and Ring

6,250 new units in Suburban

10,000 new units in Rural

25,000 new units

Figure 8 Projected Cost of Sprawl, Rhode Island, 2000-2020In Millions of Dollars

Tax revenue loss due to depreciation of remaining properties in core cities

34%

Tax revenue loss due to excessive residential

development in non-urban areas15%

Captial costs of redundant infrastructure

17%

Operating costs of redundant infrastructure

13%

Tax revenue loss due to vacant land in Core Cities

27%

Loss of agricultural products sale

1%

Loss of agr icul tur al

pr oducts sale

Captial costs of

r edundant

inf r astr uctur e

Oper ating costs of

r edundant

inf r astr uctur e

T ax r evenue loss due to

vacant land in Cor e

Cities

T ax r evenue loss due to

depr eciation of

r emaining pr oper ties

in cor e ci ties

T ax r evenue loss due to

excessive r esidential

development in non-

ur ban ar eas

212 243

382 181

400

14

TOTAL COSTS OF SPRAWL --- $1.432 BILLION

How can communities “grow How can communities “grow smart”?smart”?

• Encourage growth & development in existing city and town centers

• Mix land uses• Create a range of housing opportunities and choices• Foster “walkable” close-knit neighborhoods• Preserve & protect open space, farmland, & critical

environmental areas• Provide a variety of transportation choices

• Promote a “distinctive sense of place” through preservation

• Take advantage of existing community assets

• Make development decisions predictable, fair and cost-effective

• Encourage citizen participation in development decisions

What Smart Growth “Is” And “Is Not”What Smart Growth “Is” And “Is Not”

Vibrant cities, suburbs and towns

Not anti-suburban

Wider variety of housing choices

Not about telling people where or how to live

More transportation choices and less traffic

Not against cars and roads

Well-planned growth that improves quality of life

Not against growth

www.growsmartri.comwww.growsmartri.com

345 South Main StreetProvidence, RI 02903

273-5711

Jflaherty@growsmartri.com