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Moffroid, Katrin Melissa

Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources

2006

M.S.

Recent growth in the Northern Forest region of Vermont has led to an increasingly diffuse and unplanned development pattern often referred to as suburban sprawl. Whether this pattern actually does constitute sprawl is complicated by the term's many competing functional definitions, which focus on a range of social, economic, and environmental impacts and indicators. The purpose of this analysis was to develop an ecologically-based definition of sprawl which is specific to the Northern Forest region. This definition resulted in a per capita sprawl index which was applied to Chittenden County, Vermont, and tested as a tool to assist with future growth planning.
In particular, the results were used to evaluate the proposed planning areas within the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission's 2006 regional plan. This project was completed in two phases. First, GIs data layers, including impervious surface, forest cover, soil types, slope, hydrology and residential and commercial density, were used to develop a descriptive map displaying the sprawl index for current development across the county. Second, a prescriptive map was produced that determined areas where development should be either off-limits or encouraged. This map was devised using the sprawl index in conjunction with other data, such as the ecosystem services provided, distance to current development or conserved lands, and the recommended planning areas from the 2006 regional plan.