Urban centers developed near waterways because they needed a means of transportation, drinking water, and waste disposal. They are still located on waterways but roads and railway systems have allowed cities to develop off waterways.
Changes that have occurred in cities include the use of water for industrial uses, the use of neighboring farmland for housing and expanded development, the increase in migration to cities by people from rural areas and by immigrants, and the development of a more complex transportation system.
People move to suburbs because industrial pollution and urban crowding turned the core of many cities into undesirable living areas. Also, the development of automobiles and improved roadways enabled people to travel more easily from their homes in suburbia to their jobs in the city.
Farmers sell their land because they are taxed on its commercial value rather than on its value as farmland. This policy encourages development and forces people out of farming.
A megalopolis is the development of one large urban area as the result of several cities growing together.
Land uses suitable for floodplains include agriculture, recreation, and wildlife refuges.
Multiple land use occurs when two or more uses of land occur at the same time. Yes, land can be used for multiple purposes if they are not exclusionary or irreversible.
Recreation is a basic human need. Urban dwellers especially value open space because it provides a place for recreation. Urban planners are now beginning to realize the need for parks, urban recreation centers, and open spaces.
An example of how recreation damages the environment are areas which have been "loved to death." This occurs when the pressure placed on the resources becomes so great that the wilderness quality becomes tarnished. In addition, some forms of recreation,
such as off-road vehicles, may actually cause erosion and damage to the ecosystem.
When land is used for recreational purposes instead of grazing or development it is taxed at a lower rate and is therefore less profitable to the community. In addition, when the land is used for recreation, no one can make a profit through development or agriculture.
Urban related recreational uses include bowling centers, amusement parks, theaters, play grounds, nature centers, and public swimming pools.
Conflicts over recreational land use develop because some activities cannot occur in the same place at the same time. There is also a basic conflict between those who prefer to use motorized vehicles and those who prefer to use muscle power.
Development of a land-use plan includes gathering biological, geological and sociological information, making projections about future human needs, and developing mechanisms for implementing the plan.
Regional planning is more effective than local planning because the political boundaries that encumber a local plan seldom reflect the geological and biological data base needed for good planning.
Benefits of land-use planning include the protection of desirable land by zoning, meeting the needs of many people in the community as opposed to only a few, and the benefit derived by citizens when they participate in community decision making.
Smart growth emphasizes the concept of developing "livable" cities and towns. This includes the quality of the built environment and how well we preserve the natural environment. Both affect our quality of life.
