Exam 11: Urbanization and Sustainable Communities Creating Green Cities

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A sustainable city is one where the environmental pros outweigh the cons.It employs strategies that make efficient use of land to create pleasant,livable communities with a lower ecological footprint by reducing sprawl,maximizing walkability,and increasing local self-sufficiency.Urban planners have come up with a wide range of strategies for accomplishing these goals,three of which are infill development,urban growth boundaries,and mixed land use.To achieve self-sufficiency and limit sprawl,for example,a sustainable city might establish urban growth boundaries-outer city limits beyond which major development would be prohibited-and instead maintain a mixture of open and agricultural land along its outskirts.Such land could provide a large part of the local food,fiber,and fuel crops,along with recreational opportunities and ecological services.Similarly,promoting infill development-the development of empty lots within a city-can significantly reduce suburban sprawl and instead encourage growth that increases walkability and supports mass transit.To further encourage more walking and less driving,zoning laws might allow for mixed land uses,where residential areas are located reasonably close to commercial and light industrial ones so that people can meet their daily needs without having to travel far.