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URBAN SPRAWL Urban sprawl refers to scattered, untimely, poorly planned urban development that occurs in urban fringe and rural areas and frequently invades lands important for environmental protection, natural resource protection, and agricultural production. Urban sprawl typically manifests itself in one or more of the following patterns: leap frog development, ribbon or strip development, and large expanses of low-density, single -dimensional development. The unchecked spread of residential and related land uses into previously undeveloped land can have serious consequences in a rapidly growing community such as Indian River County. Those consequences include the increased cost of public services and facilities, loss of valuable agricultural and open natural land, and the possibility of negative environmental impacts. Urban Sprawl is Energy Inefficient Because urban sprawl is a dispersed land use pattern, it is not energy efficient with regards to transportation or utility infrastructure. Generally, a pattern of dispersed development on large tracts of inexpensive land compounds the effort to provide public services in an efficient and economic manner. Such development provides for an increased demand for services which are already unavailable in many areas of the county, while in other areas, services and facilities operate below capacity because of the dispersed development pattern. This can result in the building of expensive new facilities rather than the expansion of existing ones. A system of small dispersed facilities is generally more expensive and less efficient than a compact system. In addition, renovation, rehabilitation, and extension of certain public facilities can reduce per capita expenditures. With regards to transportation, urban sprawl is an inefficient land use pattern dependent upon high levels of fuel consumption. Because of its low-density character and segregation of residential uses from nonresidential uses, sprawl increases vehicle trip lengths and the overall share of trips made by automobile. Compared to sprawl, compact mixed use development, such as Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) development, is much more energy efficient. By mixing uses and providing multiple vehicular and pedestrian connections, compact mixed use development can reduce both the number of trips made by automobile as well as the length of trips by automobile. Another consequence of urban sprawl is a land use pattern that is not energy-efficient with regards to utility infrastructure. Because sprawl consists of land uses separated at greater distances, the amount of utility infrastructure needed to serve a sprawling land use pattern is increased. With uses located in close proximity to each other, a compact development pattern reduces utility infrastructure costs in comparison to urban sprawl. One of the county's primary tools for controlling sprawl is the urban service area boundary. The urban service boundary is a regulatory mechanism which restricts new residential, commercial, and industrial development to the easternmost portion of the county. To further combat the spread of urban sprawl, this comprehensive plan also includes policies that promote clustered development; walkable, connected neighborhoods; and mixed use projects. Future Land Use Element 121