Agenda - 08-19-2010 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities Loss of forest land Conversion of forest land in rural communities is also changing the character of those communities. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that between 1982 and 1997, 10.3 million acres of forest land were converted to development. By 2050, an additional 23 million acres of forest land may be lost.4 This trend indicates a decline in the ecological health of rural communities, but it also means that the forestry-based economy of some rural communities may be in jeopardy and that the landscapes that have defined many communities are changing. Many rural communities are concerned that these changes may have a negative impact on tourism and their residents' quality of life. Rapid growth at metropolitan edges Across the country, the highest rates of population growth have been occurring at the edges of metro- politan areas, where suburban and rural areas meet. In the mid- 1990s, three - quarters of all new residential development was built at or beyond the urban edge. Nearly all of this development occurred on lots that are one acre or larger.5 Such development, which con- sumes 1.2 million acres of prime farmland every year,6 may appear somewhat rural from the road but actually undermines the viability of a resource -based economy. Low - density and single -use development patterns also result in additional population growth and increas- ing demands for services, often in places where it is inefficient to provide them. Edge communities, due to their rapidly growing populations, may face infrastruc- The number of farms and farmers has been declining since the end of World War ll, as farmland has been developed and large corporate farms have replaced small family farms. lure challenges and find it difficult to provide new infrastructure and services at a rate that keeps up with population growth. Higher population growth and commutes to non -farm jobs increase traffic congestion along rural routes. As growth occurs in some regional areas, tensions often develop between the "new" and '.old" residents. Edge communities, which border both urban and rural areas, and resource - dependent com- munities may see nuisance lawsuits, which are com- mon, due to newcomers' concerns about the noise, odor, dust, etc., that occur with normal operation of working lands. Shrinking population in other areas While some areas struggle to keep up with growth, other regions have the opposite problem. According to the USDA, one in four rural counties saw a drop in population between 1990 and 2000, primarily due to declining farm employment, remoteness from metro- politan areas, and a lack of amenities like a vibrant Main Street or natural features.' Communities with declining populations or a contracting economy face a combination of problems: unemployment and poverty, increasing demands for social services with fewer dollars to pay for them, an aging workforce, vacant properties, and loss of historic structures. Attempts to compete with other jurisdictions for large economic development projects, such as new manufacturing plants, office parks, or regional big box retailers, may come at the expense of local businesses and the com- munity ties they aim to support. Z 0 a 93