Increased Auto Dependence and Fuel Consumption Sprawl isolates different land uses causing increased reliance on the automobile.
People commute greater distances to work or travel greater distances to shop.
The present trend is not sustainable, as highways become clogged with traffic and energy consumption increases. Williston's zoning allowed for superstore after superstore to be built. Whether the result shows the free market at its best is a good question. According to a story that ran in the Burlington Free Press, a number of Williston residents didn't realize what they would be getting in terms of the scale of the stores, and the rapidly growing traffic congestion. I don't think Williston ever wanted to be the retail mecca of Chittenden County.