Dispersed Development

The pattern most similar to the current trend for development in the Upstate, dispersed development is a low-density pattern that promotes sprawling growth across the rural landscape of the region.

Characteristics include:

Less development in existing city centers;
Added growth scattered throughout the region;
Jobs and businesses separated from residential areas;
Increased dependence on roads and automobiles
New roads needed to connect development in outlying areas;
Uses more than one million acres of primarily rural land in the Upstate for development in 30 years

Implications:

"Small town feel" may lessen as growth extends in an uncoordinated manner into the undeveloped areas;
Higher per person costs for infrastructure caused by extension of roads, water, and sewer lines to outlying areas.
Increased dependence on oil and gasoline due to longer commutes
Increase in traffic congestion and traffic accidents
Does not promote a healthy lifestyle due to lack of walkable/bikeable communities
Fewer opportunities for mass transit, since originations and destinations will not be in concentrated areas;
Large, connected tracts of undeveloped land will be developed into smaller units, which will shrink wildlife habitats and reduce farming opportunities;
Rural areas/lands will be encroached by development and may be converted to developed areas;
Sensitive environmental areas may be destroyed;
Leapfrogging of newer development to areas beyond existing development may lessen property values of existing development
Uses more than one million acres of primarily rural land for development in 30 years in the Upstate