Sprawl facts
Higher capital facilities costs
Sprawl leads to higher public facility costs. These include streets, water systems, sewer systems, storm drainage, parks, schools, fire and police.
Studies show that the density of development is the primary factor in per housing unit operating and maintenance costs. More compact urban center development costs less money to serve, generates more funds for utility districts, and significantly reduces environmental impacts in rural and agricultural areas.
Higher land costs
While land prices tend to be lower for sprawl development types, the densities are lower too. Higher density forms have higher land prices, but spread these higher costs over more residents and more jobs, reducing total land costs.
Higher profits for developers
Lands that are classified as "unimproved" for property valuation are without public facilities and infrastructure. This is reflected in lower property assessments, taxes, and fair market value. These properties tend to be located in outlying areas. Naturally, developers seek those low cost lands to maximize profits for their projects.
Higher transportation costs
Sprawl generates more total miles of vehicle travel. Fewer trips are made by transit, bicycle and walking. Mass transit is less efficient. Road construction and maintenance costs serve lower density origins and destinations.
Where public money is spent shows private developers where they should invest their funds. Allowing the transportation system in existing communities to reach gridlock or deteriorate, while building new facilities on the urban fringe, encourages private investment on the fringe.
Higher environmental impacts
Sprawl converts more agricultural land to urban uses, destroys more critical areas, fragments habitat, degrades water quality, increases impervious surfaces, increases ground level ozone pollution, and generates more greenhouse gases.
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