Usually at the crossroads of major thoroughfares, the town center provides daily goods and services for neighborhood residents as well as visitors. Its urban character reflects the extension of pedestrian networks into adjacent neighborhoods, while also providing automobile parking. City - The aggregate of two or more towns, specialized districts and connective transportation and open space corridors. When organized as a composite of complete neighborhoods, districts and corridors, a city appears and functions organically, evolves in an orderly fashion, and preserves environmental resources as sustainable community amenities. Sprawl - Haphazard outward growth in a disorderly fashion.
Urban sprawl is the antithesis of traditional development patterns.
The greater St. Cloud regional area, which includes the counties of Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright, is the primary growth region in Minnesota. Figures from the State Demographer's Office suggest that this rapid growth pattern will continue for the foreseeable future. This has led many to question whether the region is ready for the planning challenges ahead. The APO is an advisory body comprised of elected city, township and county officials. While primarily a transportation planning organization, the APO has often been a forum for various policy issues of multi-jurisdictional significance.