I was earnestly wondering whether this thoughtful man would become my enemy or supporter. Before I tell you that, let me apply this first lesson to the problems of urban sprawl. Cities are loaded with stress. People want out of the stress vortex, so they move from the city as their resources permit. These are above average affluent.
Businesses chase their money and skills, locating stores and offices in the move-out zone.
Unfortunately the flight carries futility with it. The often hastily-built new construction injures natural resources more than a similar amount of building in the urban center. Efforts to restrict it with government regulations cut across the desire of our most affluent and energetic people, making them feel demonized and attacked. Hence it causes more stress, and produces, at best, a temporary delay. In trying to solve this problem, we create more of the same stress that drives it.