Dealing with Unsustainable Impacts of Urban Sprawl by Smart Growth Strategies in Karaj City–Iran

Urban growth is a pertinent topic for analysis and assessment towards the sustainable development of a city. Environmental impacts of urban growth and extent of urban problems have been growing in complexity and relevance, generating strong imbalances between the city and its hinterland. The need to address this complexity in assessing and monitoring the urban planning and management processes and practices is strongly felt in the recent years. After land reforms and beginning of massive urban migration, Iranian cities has experienced a very rapid expansion that in contrast to previous urban forms, has been based on peripheral and low-density development with many unutilized and barren lands inside existing communities. Karaj city is faced with urban sprawl problem, that has led to over-exploitation of land and made high potential and qualified lands for municipal services remain unused and disabled; while by expanding the city boundaries, agricultural lands and gardens are separated, thus a considerable amount of public investment is being wasted and environmental degradation is a consequence of this sprawl growth. In order to reduce the undesirable effects of urban sprawl, it seems necessary to understand limitations of this phenomenon. This research evaluates Smart growth approach in order to deal with the problem of urban sprawl in Karaj city. It is explained how to apply three important principles: mixed land use, strengthen and direct development towards existing communities, to decrease unsustainable impacts of urban sprawl in Karaj city.

Keywords:

Urban Growth , Urban Sprawl , Sustainability , Infill development