When City and Country Collide: Managing Growth in the Metropolitan Fringe

By Tom Daniels

Strips of urban and suburban "fabric" have extended into the countryside, creating a ragged settlement pattern that blurs the distinction between rural, urban, and suburban. As traditional rural industries like farming, forestry, and mining rapidly give way to residential and commercial development, the land at the edges of developed areas -- the rural-urban fringe -- is becoming the middle landscape between city and countryside that the suburbs once were.

When City and Country Collide examines the fringe phenomenon and presents a workable approach to fostering more compact development and better, more sustainable communities in those areas. It provides viable alternatives to traditional land use and development practices, and offers a solid framework and rational perspective for wider adoption of growth management techniques.

The author: reviews growth management techniques and obstacles to growth management examines the impact of federal spending programs and regulations on growth management presents a comprehensive planning process for communities and counties discusses state-level spending programs and regulations illustrates design principles for new development looks at regional planning efforts and regional governments discusses ways to protect farmland, forestland, and natural areas to help control sprawl

The book also features a series of case studies -- including Albuquerque, New Mexico; Larimer County, Colorado; Chittenden County, Vermont; and others -- that evaluate the success of efforts to control both the size of the fringe and growth within the fringe. It ends with a discussion of possible futures for fringe areas.

When City and Country Collide is an important guide for planners and students of planning, policymakers, elected officials, and citizens working to minimize sprawl.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1559635975
• ISBN13: 9781559635974
• Release Date: November 1998
• Publisher: Island Press
• Length: 382 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A thoughtful analysis of sprawl issues

I found this book to be a thorough and thoughtful analysis of suburban sprawl issues in America. Daniels is a fluid writer, and his work is very accessible. He is careful to identify terms that are relevent to a comprehensive understanding of sprawl, and does not promote ridiculous, hard-core left dramatic changes as the only solution. However, I would appreciate more perspective on what the actual housing needs of Americans are; he leaps to the conclusion (like so many) that sprawl is caused by the wealthiest citizens. Where, then, do the (dwindling) working and middle classes live? Do they not require homes and services?