As development expands into what was open space, taxes increase to pay for new roads, sewers, gas and power lines, schools, as well as police and fire services to the new development. This expansion often leaves little money for maintenance and improvements of infrastructure and services in existing communities.

Communities are built for cars. Many streets are wide and fast-moving traffic makes them dangerous to cross. They often lack sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes and other components of a safe, seamless and convenient route for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Traffic plagues the community because driving is the only viable way to get from place to place. Stores, homes and offices are separated by long distances, wide roads and vast parking lots, making it inconvenient to walk or bike. With few town centers, each errand requires a separate trip instead of allowing multiple errands to be accomplished in one location. Transit can be infrequent, routes are poorly marked and shelters are often not provided at bus stops. Walking and biking are not safe because traffic speeds down wide streets and bike lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks are often lacking.

Loss of trees, farmland and open space:

Speculative developers buy farmland and wooded parcels of land cheap, then have taxpayers build roads and infrastructure to serve it. The access that the roads provide increases the value of the land. They either sell to developers or develop it themselves.

Because everyone must drive for every trip, air pollution becomes a problem. Asthmatics and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, but the problem affects everyone in the community.

Water pollution:

So much land is paved over by development, roads and parking lots that rainwater cannot filter through the soil. Instead, it flows directly into bodies of water. It brings pollutants with it and causes the body of water to experience more severe low and high waters.