I'm going to make a side note and it's something the urbanists on this board either miss or dismiss, I'm not entirely sure which.

Your economic arguments that sprawl isn't sustainable because they cost more to build and maintain then the government takes in are ridiculous. Governments have one thing that nothing else in the world has. The power to tax. They can raise taxes and instantly raise revenues. If it was truly unsustainable, the government would simply raise taxes and boom just like magic the money is there.

Sprawl may not be sustainable at current tax rates, but rates can always change. It's not like a family budget because the earners in the family can't demand more pay, a government can.

It's why the country is $15 trillion in debt and we haven't collapsed, because worst comes to worst spending can be cut and revenue increased.

Also there isn't a right or wrong here. It's more a matter of preference. Once both the urban/sprawl cheerleaders accept that, you'll quit arguing or trying to win.

Just my $.02