The population shifts indicated by the 2000 census show that road construction has generated a suburban explosion into farmland and wetlands in southern New Castle County and Sussex County. That shift will cause a dollar decline in northern Delaware's populated home markets. Driver-vehicle miles have soared. As we give up wildlife habitat, farmland and open space, we replace it with uninspired design, franchise architecture and monotony. Small towns have lost banks, grocery stores and post offices to strip malls outside the walkable community.
Suburban sprawl makes mass transit options harder to implement and more costly.
As we focus on the rights of individuals, we have forgotten that a community has rights too. Gov. Minner is right to recognize the high dollar cost if we continue business as usual in planning and policies. As society becomes more technologically driven, the site for a workplace becomes more open to choice. Other states are taking on the challenge of creating livable communities without sacrificing economic growth. I offer the governor the full support of the National Trust for Historic Preservation as she takes on this challenge.