Rapidly Growing African Cities Need to Adopt Smart Growth Policies to Solve Urban Development Concerns

Abstract

This study reviews the smart growth concept-and identity-specific principles that could be adopted by rapidly growing African cities. Given the macroeconomic reform changes over the last two decades and given the persistently high natural population growth and continuous influx of rural residents to urban areas, the application of these principles may ensure sustainable urban development. The main assertion of this paper is that due to the rapid spatial expansion of major African cities in recent years, a more informed and thoughtful approach to urban development is needed to achieve efficiency and long-term sustainability. The current urban development pattern, which is dominated by unlimited outward extension, low-density residential developments, and haphazard patterns, is unacceptable. This pattern is destroying prime agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands, while increasing air pollution and traffic congestion. This paper suggests that these problems can be addressed by the adoption of smart growth principles. Smart growth principles promote compact urban development by concentrating growth in existing urban areas. The principles also encourage creating a strong municipal government with the authority to implement land-use legislation and regulations, developing a comprehensive physical plan to guide the location and timing of development, committing strongly to manage urban areas, and providing a wide range of housing choices that are affordable to residents of various incomes, ages, and lifestyles. The central idea of smart growth is that structured and strategic planning supports economic growth, addresses community needs, and protects the environment.

Non-compliance with building permit regulations in Accra-Tema city-region, Ghana: exploring the reasons from the perspective of multiple stakeholders

“…Attempts to plan and regulate urban development in Africa are fraught with many failures (Goodfellow, 2013;Mabogunje, 1990;Okpala, 2008;Silva, 2012). Scholars point to massive unauthorized housing structures (Kamete, 2006;Kombe, 2005;Pugh, 2002;rakodi, 2001;Sliuzas, 2004), expansion of old residential structures without authorized permits (Tipple, 2000), unauthorized conversion of housing spaces to alternative uses (Gough & Kellett, 2001;Oosterbaan, Arku & Asiedu, 2012), sprawling urban development (Antwi, 2002;Arku, 2009a), slum formation, overcrowding and congestion (Aribigbola, 2008), and absence of natural environmental elements such as green spaces and urban Downloaded by [University of California Santa Barbara] at 04:16 27 June 2016 parks (Arku, Yeboah, & Nyantakyi-Frimpong, in press) as evidence of such failures. The challenge of managing urban areas in Africa tends to generate debate, with some scholars questioning whether "planning is the solution to Africa's urban challenge or part of the problem" (Goodfellow, 2013, p. 84).…”

A methodological approach to urban land-use change modeling using infill development pattern—a case study in Tabriz, Iran

“…Instead, it calls for compact, diverse, and walkable developments and more environmentally friendly urbanization. Since its conception, many public and private planning agencies and organizations have endorsed this concept (Arku, 2009).…”

Conversion of Residential Units to Commercial Spaces in Accra, Ghana: A Policy Dilemma

“…Although spatial expansion has predated economic reforms in these cities, the renewed expansion of urban opportunities and accelerated private demand for land have led to an increased rate of urban population growth and more rapid sprawl. Indeed, some cities doubled, even quadrupled, in physical size in a relatively short period of time (Arku, 2009). The changing political economies of these countries have also caused new urban elements to emerge, such as new business districts, gentrified residential communities, urban sprawl, large residential communities, and peri-urban changes (Lo & Marcotullio, 2000;Simon et al, 2004;Grant, 2006;Asiedu & Arku, 2009).…”