Rapid land development is associated with loss of farmland and open space, higher costs of infrastructure and community services, roadway congestion, racial segregation, and concentrated poverty.

"Of serious concern to planners is the rapidly increasing rate of land consumption. Between 1970 and 1990, Nashville’s population grew by 28% while its urbanized area grew by 41% (Sierra Club 2009). Land was reportedly developed at a rate of 60 acres per day during the early 2000s (Chief Executive Magazine 2005). Much of this additional land consumption has taken place in suburban or exurban areas, causing loss of farmland and open space, higher costs of infrastructure and community services, roadway congestion, racial segregation, and concentrated poverty (Katz 2000, 2002; Snyder and Bird 1998; Gordon and Richardson 1998; Daniels and Bowers 1997; Brookings 2000; Nelson and Sanchez 2005)."