Dilemmas in urbanism and suburbanism and the transect...

The transect of "urbanization" is a useful conceptual construct to help us think through land use and planning issues. There are six transect zones, ranging from nature to highly populated and/or dense districts. It's not perfect, because it is broad-brushed.

Transect diagram.

The Nashville/Davidson County Community Character Manual takes the transect concept but fine tunes it, with up to 7 subzones of each transect zone, based on the interaction between four primary elements (open space, neighborhoods, centers, and corridors) and the intent to preserve, enhance or create (develop) the spaces.

In the meantime, there are many incongruencies as places change such as:

1. Cougar on the loose? Park closed" from the Seattle Times.

KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES. A sign at the visitors center alerts people to Discovery Park's closure due to "credible" cougar sightings.

2. "No One's Breaking Bread With This Wine: Some think a Fairfax County winery would preserve open space and boost tourism" and "Farm Winery Squeezes by Fairfax Zoning Law: State Board Gives Approval Over County's, Neighbors' Objections" from the Washington Post, about the creation of a winery in a more rural area of Fairfax County.

3. "Bow Hunt for Deer Debated in Leesburg: Residents Weigh Damage, Danger" from the Post.