Why is urban density important?
A. The State’s Growth Management Act has more than a dozen goals, one of which is to halt urban sprawl by concentrating housing in cities where infrastructure and services already exist. Urban density uses less land: to accommodate 120 units of housing downtown requires 1.4 acres (a five story project with structured parking); in the South Capitol neighborhood it would take 11 acres; in a suburban area 39 acres; and in rural areas 284 acres.
