Urban Sprawl

According to the ADN report here, parking is going to be quite a task for commuters in the days to come. It raises the question of urban sprawl. A movement called New Urbanism seeks to change the way communities use space by changing the zoning laws. Everyone I have talked with about New Urbanism finds some good points in it, but stops short of affirming it completely. New Urbanists tend to hold up cities like Portland, Oregon as ideals, and put down Atlanta, Georgia as planning disasters. If Alaska were to consider something like New Urbanism, the only reminder I would raise is that it isn't merely changing the nature of space. It changes your demographic, public consciousness, and therefore society. So, beware.