Abstract
There is a predictable sameness creeping over the fact of the North American landscape. In the past several decades, highways, shopping centers, residential subdivisions and most other forms of development have taken on a remarkable similarity from coast to coast. Not only do they look alike, but modern developments also tend to function alike, including the way they relate to the environment; that is, in the way land is cleared and graded, streets are laid out, stormwater is drained, buildings are sited and designed, and landscaping is arranged. We know that this fa~ade of development masks an inherently diverse landscape in North America. If we look a little deeper, it is apparent that landscape diversity is rooted in the varied physiographic character of the continent-and this in turn reflects differences in the way the terrestrial environment functions. Does it not seem reasonable, then, that land use should also reflect these differences if it is to be responsive to the environment? But despite adherence to a considerable body of environmental law, modern development, as guided by the traditional planning professions, has not demonstrated a facility for dealing with some critical geographic aspects of land use problems. Scale is a good example.
Recommended Citation
Marsh, William M.
(1998)
"Projections and Perceptions Editorial Comment: Has Land Use Development Lost Touch with the American Landscape? The Need for Geographers in Planning,"
The Geographical Bulletin: Vol. 40:
Iss.
2, Article 1.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/thegeographicalbulletin/vol40/iss2/1