In addition, the report showed that people living in areas of sprawling growth face dangerously long emergency response times for ambulance, fire fighting and police services. AFT commissioned the year-long study by Northern Illinois University researchers to examine the impacts of scatter development in the region's outlying suburbs, which complements AFT's continued efforts to demonstrate how local governments benefit by protecting their prime and unique farmland. According to the study, scatter development is characterized by homes on large lots or by widely scattered subdivisions. AFT found that despite the high assessed values of houses in scatter developments, the cost of providing services to those homes is often subsidized by residents in more modest homes in the adjacent towns. In addition, the study found that people living in far-flung houses and subdivisions often face increased risks to their personal safety.
Long trips mean increased risks on rural roads prone to snow drifts and heavy fog.
To counter the costs and dangers of scatter development, AFT recommends more efficient suburban development and better protection of high-quality farmland. AFT will be working with Chicago Environment Commissioner Henry L. Henderson, the Homebuilders Association of Chicago, the Environmental Protection Agency Region Five and federal and local officials to plan for smarter and more sustainable growth that accommodates the region's housing needs while protecting farmland. Our Brownfields program and aggressive clean air initiatives are aimed at preserving valuable farmland while redeveloping the urban core. These are essential components for improvement of Chicago's environmental and economic health. Last year, AFT identified the Chicago region as the nation's third most threatened agricultural area.