SPRAWL

The Y's plan of abandoning Downtown and relocating to a "remote," rural and residential section of Westport is the embodiment and classical definition of sprawl; moving a centralized community facility away from the core of the town and placing it far away from most residents and the center of town. Forcing traffic into new neighborhoods and onto new roads not planned for such an impact.

The Sierra Clubs says:

Suburban sprawl -- defined as irresponsible, often poorly-planned development that destroys green space, increases traffic and air pollution is a major concern for Americans across the country. And, increasingly, the impact of suburban sprawl has become a topic of discussion and debate.

Poorly planned development threatens our environment, our health, and our quality of life in numerous ways.

Sprawl spreads development out over large amounts of land; puts long distances between homes, stores, and job centers; and makes people more and more dependent on driving in their daily lives.

Sprawl pollutes our air and water. As reliance on cars and pavement of more and more roads increases, so does smog and pollution from water runoff. Today, more than half all Americans live in areas where the air is unsafe to breathe. Sprawl destroys more than two million acres of parks, farms and open space each year.

Sprawl increases traffic on our neighborhood streets and highways. Sprawl lengthens trips and forces us to drive everywhere. The average American driver currently spends the equivalent of 55 eight-hour workdays behind the wheel every year.

Sprawl wastes tax money. It pulls economic resources away from existing communities and spreads them out over sparse developments far away from the core. Taxes subsidize millions of dollars worth of new roads, new water and sewer lines, new schools and increased police and fire protection at the expense of the needs of the core communities. This leads to degradation of our older towns and cities and higher taxes.

The answer is Smart Growth. Smart growth not only improves air and water quality and protects open space, but it also redirects investments to our existing towns and cities.

The State Blue Ribbon Panel on Smart Growth said. "Sprawl is a significant threat to our quality of life in Connecticut."

Learn more about Sprawl and its impacts:






Y Downtown
to limit sprawl

Y Downtown
to protect open space

Y Downtown
to reduce traffic congestion

Y Downtown
to invigorate local businesses

Y Downtown
to keep it a central part of the community

Y Downtown
to protect our rural character

Y Downtown
to allow youths & seniors to use it.

Y Downtown
Because Greenwich is doing it