Ted Koffman, director of government relations at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, said the loss of natural beauty is the greatest cost of sprawl, and the reason why containing sprawl is critical to all Mainers. He is rallying support for sprawl-control measures. Sprawl is a loosely defined term that, in its broadest sense, refers to the disorderly spread of development. The trend has been seen in this country for most of this century. In the 1920s, a regional plan of the New York City area warned that farms were being eaten up by development, and encouraged renewed emphasis on the ''old village community.'' With sprawl development, houses are on large private lots.
Sidewalks are rare.
People use their cars to get everywhere, whether it's to work or to buy a loaf of bread. In contrast, non-sprawl neighborhoods are built next to other neighborhoods. People can walk to the corner store. To many, sprawl is attractive. It means cheaper land, privacy, country living, and an escape from the problems associated with cities.