Eugene is growing. New housing, infrastructure and businesses continue growing across the city as more people are drawn to its vibrant community, lush surroundings and progressive values.
But with that growth comes a question every city eventually has to face: how do you make room for more people without pushing nature out? For Oregon, and Eugene in particular, the answer lies in how city planners plan the land.
Urban sprawl—typically defined as the uncontrolled expansion of low-density development across large areas of land—often leads to fragmented landscapes, increased car dependency and greater environmental degradation. In contrast, building up rather than out helps cities preserve natural areas and make better use of existing infrastructure…