Charlotte 5th in sprawl

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Charlotte ranks as the fifth most sprawling metro area in the nation, says Smart Growth America, a national sustainable growth research and advocacy group.

The advocacy group examined 221 metro areas across the country with populations of at least 200,000 to come up with its lists of cities. The rankings were determined by using data on the density of housing and jobs, the mix of residential and commercial buildings, the concentration of residential and commercial developments near the urban core and the accessibility of the streets.

Atlanta was first when it came to urban sprawl, followed by Nashville, Tenn.; Riverside-San Bernadino, Calif.; and Warren, Mich.

Research has linked sprawl to a number of ills including higher rates of obesity, increased traffic deaths, poor air quality, higher residential energy use, longer response times for emergency services and longer commutes.

The study reported that people living in connected and more compact communities had greater economic opportunities as well. Residents living in more concentrated communities spent less on housing and transportation because they often have more public transportation options. Those living in more compact areas also have healthier and safer lives than people living in communities where sprawl is present, the researchers said.

Advocates hope that Charlotte’s ranking will sound a wake-up call for the need for more sustainable development in our region.

“This report affirms how important it is that we encourage a more compact and connected development pattern,” said Shannon Binns, executive director of Sustain Charlotte.

“We must move quickly to reform our zoning code, which does not sufficiently encourage compact development,” he added.