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> Nobody asks for these proposals when building tract housing. Of course they do. In my area we require any proposed development to include a detailed indepen

> Nobody asks for these proposals when building tract housing. Of course they do. In my area we require any proposed development to include a detailed independent analysis (not a few pages, it's an inch thick book) of all the infrastructure requirements to support that development as well as the predictable downstream effects, and so on. Maybe that's not universal. Maybe it's why my suburban area hasn't experienced any of the infrastructure failure predicted by places like strong towns despite well over 100 years and counting. But I expect that it is more common than not. If you're only talking about "how much food land somewhere in the world do we need to support X people here or somewhere else" then sure, I guess nobody probably does that. Regardless of housing style. It's not very useful, unless we're planning some dystopian population controls and are looking for justification.

chimeracoder 4y ago
> If you're only talking about "how much food land somewhere in the world do we need to support X people here or somewhere else" then sure, I guess nobody probably does that. Yes, that's what I'm talking about. Environmental analysis of the other form is commonplace, but varies by locality. In some places, the environmental review process is already weaponized in order to block construction with absurd claims, purely for self-serving purposes.
- photochemsyn 4y ago
  You mean the landed gentry don't want high-density low-income housing right next door, and so use environmental review to block such developments? This is probably true, although just buying the city politicians seems to do the job in most places. To be honest, I was more thinking about how to build cities on Mars than that issue. High-density skyscrapers surrounded by dedicated agricultural production might be the best issue, although I suppose people will still fight each other over who gets to live on the top floor with the best views...

chimeracoder 4y ago

> If you're only talking about "how much food land somewhere in the world do we need to support X people here or somewhere else" then sure, I guess nobody probably does that. Yes, that's what I'm talking about. Environmental analysis of the other form is commonplace, but varies by locality. In some places, the environmental review process is already weaponized in order to block construction with absurd claims, purely for self-serving purposes.

photochemsyn 4y ago
You mean the landed gentry don't want high-density low-income housing right next door, and so use environmental review to block such developments? This is probably true, although just buying the city politicians seems to do the job in most places. To be honest, I was more thinking about how to build cities on Mars than that issue. High-density skyscrapers surrounded by dedicated agricultural production might be the best issue, although I suppose people will still fight each other over who gets to live on the top floor with the best views...