Applying any three of the basic principles of smart growth,
explain how the private land surrounding federally owned
property might be developed to minimize environmental
impacts.
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1. Mixed Land Uses- As opposed to traditional zoning, mix land uses of business,
residential, retail, education and recreation promote walking and bicycling as
opposed to automobile use, thereby reducing noise, air pollution and energy
consumption.
2. Create walkable neighborhoods- Positioning of buildings and parking lots
works in conjunction with #1 to reduce noise, air pollution, and energy
consumption.
3. Take advantage of compact building design- Through the use of multistory
buildings for residences, businesses and parking garages, the amount of
impervious surfaces can be reduced, thereby reducing runoff and the risk of
flooding as well as increasing groundwater recharge.
4. Preserve farmland, open space, and critical environmental areas - Farmland
can provide a local source of fresh produce and other agricultural products,
thereby reducing the need to import food. Preserving open space and critical
environmental areas can enhance those areas in the federally-owned land,
thereby reducing habitat fragmentation.
5. Provide a variety of transportation choices - With viable options for walking,
bicycling, and mass transit, energy consumption can be reduced and air quality
improved.
• What priorities do city planners need to consider?
Ideal land use strategies
• Explain the positive feed back loops of urban blight
• Explain the positive feed back loops of urban sprawl
MEASURING YOUR IMPACT
The Costs of Commuting Imagine that you are one of 1,000 people who used to live
in a downtown area and walked or took public transportation to work. Now you and
the others have moved to the suburbs and drive 20 km per day each way.
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(a) How many additional kilometers are being driven each day by those 1,000 people?
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(b) How many additional kilometers are being driven each week by the 1,000 people?
(Assume that each person works 5 days a week.)
• 200,000
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(c) How many additional kilometers are being driven each year by those 1,000 people?
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40,000
10,000,000
(d) If the average car gets 10 km per liter, how many liters of gasoline will be used by those
1,000 people each year?
• 1,000,000
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(e) Assuming that you are not going to move back to an urban area or change your job, what
measures could you take to lessen your impact on the environment?
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Drive a car with higher fuel efficiency, carpool, or use public transportation. Telecommute.
Identify and explain four public land
management agencies that are involved in
managing this public land.
• 1. Bureau of Land Management - The major responsibility of this agency is
to oversee grazing practices; since this property appears to include open
grasslands, BLM may be involved. Additionally, off-road driving and forests
are also pictured which fall under BLM jurisdiction.
• 2. U.S. Forest Service - USFS oversees the timber program and builds and
maintains logging roads. Recreational use and the maintenance of the
forest biodiversity also are the responsibilities of this agency.
• 3. National Park Service - The large building in the center of the land
might suggest lodgings for tourists or an information center. The NPS is
responsible for recreation and wildlife habitat/ species protection.
• 4. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - The forested area may represent an
intact forest ecosystem. There is no evidence of roads (road building is
banned in national wilderness preservation areas). The existing building
may predate the wilderness designation. The land may be used for wildlife
conservation, hunting, and/or recreation.