urban sprawl,”- is the encroachment of suburbs on agricultural land. Farms that wereonce highly productive have given way to expansive, low-density urban andsuburban residential developments where pavement, golf courses, office complexes,and shopping centers cover the landscape. The loss of farmland and natural habitatin the urban fringe affects recreational land and the ability to produce local,affordable food for urban populations.-Since 1990s, in many area
middle- and upper-income urbanites have sought lower densitysuburban neighborhoods.”