Land Use Issues of the 1980s

Abstract

Land use and development patterns are the result of a complex interaction of demographic trends, economic circumstances, and social attitudes. Technological advancements in areas such as transportation and construction, and the availability and cost of key natural resources, including land, fresh water, and energy, also have a profound impact on urban spatial patterns. Consequently, the determinants of urban spatial form are dramatically different today from the forces that acted to shape American cities in the past. In order for land use controls to be effective, regulations on the use of land must keep abreast of changes in the factors affecting the demand for land. Zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, and building codes have drawn criticism in recent years from land use planners, developers, environmentalists, and others involved in or concerned with the land use planning process. The myriad problems associated with the rapid growth and expansion of suburbia and, more recently, of exurbia, have been answered with traditional land regulatory mechanisms that have had only mixed success. How have controls been adapted to meet the demands of increasingly complex development patterns? How successful have these modifications been in achieving more efficient spatial configurations and less costly building practices? These issues are the subject of the readings that have been gathered together by James H. Carr and Edward E. Duensing. Beginning with factors affecting land use demand, this volume presents an analysis of current state-of-the-art land use controls, reviews the shortcomings of the current land regulatory system, and suggests certain modifications to improve urban spatial development patterns. The concluding chapters discuss land use issues for future consideration.