Regional Land Suitability Analysis and Growth Management Practices for Buncombe County, North Carolina

Growth management is a set of policies and techniques that is vital to planning the future development in any jurisdiction across the United States. The vast amount of open space that exists in all states, and most clearly in more rural communities, does not suggest that new development should occur in any form simply because the land is present. The problem with allowing new development to occur freely is that it can cause many undesirable consequences, the most recognizable being low-density sprawl. The negative effects of sprawl include an array of issues related to various social, environmental, and public health concerns. Some of these aspects may include air pollution, water overconsumption, and loss of species habitats