Urban Planning, Urban Sprawl, and Quality of Life

Introduction to Urban Planning

Urban planning — also referred to as urban development — consists of a formal planning process in which urban areas are designed to meet both the present and future challenges of city life. Planners consider the relationship between the built environment and human behavior or quality of life (Handy, Boarnet, Ewing, & Killingsworth, 2002). An urban planner, sometimes called a city planner, can assist community leaders in analyzing trends in order to decide how best to use public resources to meet various objectives. Some of the issues commonly addressed by urban planners include city growth planning, urban decay, environmental issues, social issues such as poverty and crime, and many more. By studying these issues, researchers attempt to understand the factors that make cities both livable and enjoyable. This research is also used to implement plans and policies that foster positive urban development.

Role of the Urban Planner

Urban planners devote a considerable amount of time focused on the future. Although they must study the present as a basis for any plan, most of their attention is directed toward future development. In this sense, an urban planner can be as much an artist as a scientist, since a great deal of creativity is required in most instances. The job demands a fusion of design skills, creativity, and technical knowledge. The role of the urban planner is also multidisciplinary, drawing from many different fields of research including architecture, sociology, psychology, engineering, and more.

To create an effective urban plan, an urban planner will typically scan the environment looking for opportunities for improvement. They evaluate different project ideas and then prioritize them based on their contributions to the community. Urban planners take an organized approach to solving the challenges present in an urban environment, as well as those that lie ahead as metropolitan areas expand rapidly. To meet their objectives, they often act as a bridge among groups of citizens, various community organizations, and public officials to determine potential strategies.

Urban Sprawl: Definition and Causes

To examine one of the challenges that an urban planner might face, consider the phenomenon commonly referred to as urban sprawl. Urban sprawl refers to a complex pattern of land use, transportation, and social and economic development. As a broad phenomenon, sprawl encompasses a variety of issues related to land use, transportation, urban and regional design, and planning. Cities expand quickly while also covering an increasing amount of land area. Three factors are argued to be driving this trend: a growing population, rising incomes, and falling commuting costs (Brueckner, 2000). Some of the disadvantages generally attributed to urban sprawl include the loss of farmland and wildlife habitats, high dependence on cars and technology, air pollution and associated health hazards, and increased per-person infrastructure costs.

Conclusion: Challenges Facing Urban Planners

Urban sprawl is just one of many issues a community planner might face when preparing for future growth. This can be a difficult task because transportation by automobile has become so ingrained in the culture's collective consciousness that it is hard to break this trend — even in light of research indicating a much higher quality of life in alternative arrangements. As a result, much of an urban planner's work involves educating both the public and policymakers about emerging research in the field. Overcoming the obstacles posed by the current culture of growth remains a persistent and formidable challenge. Resources such as those provided by the American Planning Association continue to support planners in advancing evidence-based, community-centered development strategies.