The government-imposed greenbelts around some major Canadian cities have also backfired.
The reduced supply of land drives up prices within the urban area surrounded by the greenbelt.
This in turn just encourages more sprawl on the outer edges of the greenbelt, where land can be cheaper.
Those living in these new developments often commute into the urban area for work or other reasons, and now have to drive much farther each day as they pass through the greenbelt two (or more) times.
Infrastructure development in and through the greenbelt becomes bureaucratically challenging, preventing public transit or more efficient road infrastructure from being built.
Environmental regulations can too often have unanticipated (or ignored) environmental impacts that negate many of the supposed benefits.
The reduced supply of land drives up prices within the urban area surrounded by the greenbelt.
This in turn just encourages more sprawl on the outer edges of the greenbelt, where land can be cheaper.
Those living in these new developments often commute into the urban area for work or other reasons, and now have to drive much farther each day as they pass through the greenbelt two (or more) times.
Infrastructure development in and through the greenbelt becomes bureaucratically challenging, preventing public transit or more efficient road infrastructure from being built.
Environmental regulations can too often have unanticipated (or ignored) environmental impacts that negate many of the supposed benefits.