International Business Times Thinks Bucks County Sucks

International Business Times has a piece out arguing that Bucks County is the global epitome of suburban sprawl, homogeneity, and paved-over natural beauty. Here’s their case, in a nutshell:

• “The cost of all this growth, prosperity and success has been high — that is, the gradual and perhaps irreversible destruction of Mother Nature in favor of housing developments, shopping malls, subdivisions, parking lots and office complexes.”
• “By the 1970s, tract housing, shopping centers and other monuments to commercial progress proliferated across Bucks County – in the process, wiping out thousands of acres of farms and forest lands.”
• “Between 1990 and 2009, “agricultural” lands alone lost 7 percent, or about 27,000 acres, while “undeveloped” land lost 6 percent, or almost 24,500 acres.”
• “By 2030, when Bucks’ population is expected to reach between 678,000 and 692,000, the number of residences could amount to up to 280,000 units, up from about 246,000 in 2010. Of course, all these new housing units will require more precious space.”

On the other hand…New Hope!