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ATTACHMENT "A" FUTURE LAND USE ELEMENT PAGE 55 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 and 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. These 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. 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 increase 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 more expensive eeenomically and inefficient. In addition, renovation, rehabilitation, and extension of certain facilities can reduce per capita expenditures. The second concern is the loss of valuable land to development. These lands can include agriculture or farm land; open space and native land; and land which is environmentally sensitive. Once developed there is little ehange-or chance for reconversion to their native or natural use. At the same time, large tracts within the developed areas of the county remain vacant. Environmental degradation as the result of sprawl is likely to occur in two ways: the first is the outright loss of natural land and environmentally sensitive lands. These lands play an important role in maintaining the natural balance of the ecosystem as well as contributing to the aesthetic beauty and recreational resources of the county. The second is the result of development without public services and infrastructure. As development in these areas increases, the dependence on individual well and septic systems can result in the contamination of the underground water supply, requiring expensive clean up measures, development of services and facilities and public health threats. As indicated in the Economic Development Element, Agriculture is one of the major industries in the county. Based on the amount of land designated for agriculture, the revenue generated and the number of employees, one of the most important resources of the county to be preserved is agricultural land. While planning for rural areas, the following issues must be considered: promoting agricultural diversification, maintaininq the rural character of rural areas by separation of urban and rural land uses, protecting natural systems and environmentally sensitive areas, permitting the conversion of agricultural lands to other uses when and where appropriate, and maximizing the efficient provision and use of public facilities and services. Addressing the above issues and allowing a certain amount of development in agricultural areas is possible through application of innovative land development regulations One such regulation is a requirement for all non-agricultural activities in rural and SmeadSoft Reprint Date: Friday, August 23, 2013 - 11:57:27 - OfficialDocuments:625, Attachment Id 0, Page 4