American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

Which of the following is an effective tool for managing urban sprawl?

1. Zoning regulations

2. Building permit caps

3. Public transportation systems

4. Both A and C

The correct answer is: Both A and C

The most effective tool for managing urban sprawl combines both zoning regulations and public transportation systems. Zoning regulations help shape land use in a way that can control density, encourage mixed-use development, and protect open space. By establishing guidelines for where different types of buildings can be constructed, zoning can discourage development that leads to sprawl, guiding growth towards urban areas where infrastructure already exists. Public transportation systems complement zoning by providing residents with alternatives to car travel, making it easier to live in denser areas while reducing vehicle dependence. When cities invest in robust public transportation, they promote higher density development near transit corridors, which discourages the spread of urban development into surrounding rural areas. This coordinated approach effectively controls urban sprawl by ensuring that as cities grow, they do so in a sustainable manner that uses land efficiently and protects the environment.