Tackling Sprawl with Community Wisdom

In my years leading the Pomegranate Center, one truth became clear: a sustainable and just future is not possible with sprawl. Our land use contributes to loneliness, economic separation, a deteriorating nature, and a warming planet with increasing natural disasters–floods, fires, atmospheric rivers, and tornadoes. 

I was recently invited to speak on “Tackling Sprawl from the Ground Up” at the annual statewide conference of the Washington Planning Association (PAW), addressing dedicated professionals who shape the futures of Washington's cities and counties.

I spoke to them from the perspective of an artist and immigrant as opposed to a planning professional. Sensitive to forms and shapes, I’ve always found the sprawling nature of American cities troubling. It often prioritizes the few over the many, individuals over communities. I referenced James Hillman’s insight: "The soul that is uncared for turns into an angry child." Indeed, when I first arrived in the U.S., I was shocked by the anger and hostility prevalent at public meetings. To address these tensions, I founded the Pomegranate Center to help communities find a more constructive path forward.

At the PAW talk, I encouraged planners to communicate what's at stake, present facts transparently, and trust that well-informed citizens can become effective allies in shaping solutions. My experience has taught me that genuine community engagement leads to faster and more enduring policy changes than top-down regulations.

Some planners approached me afterward, somewhat defensively noting they had already come to similar conclusions. My response was: understanding issues internally is essential, but genuine solutions emerge when communities themselves are actively involved. By bringing factual conversations directly to residents and inviting their best ideas, planners can build crucial partnerships between government and citizens. I see this partnership as necessary in making our cities livable, sustainable, and inclusive.

Innovation in planning is crucial, but alone it won't change the trajectory of our cities. The problem is also cultural. This means that we need to re-examine our aspirations. The American dream, with its fetishization of suburban life, two cars in a driveway far removed from the perils of the city, must endure closer scrutiny. In the past, inexpensive land, cars, and energy made suburbia possible. Now, we need to recognize that they are wasteful and unsustainable. 

Because pyramids can’t be built from the top down, I propose public meetings where experts ask challenging questions and actively invite community responses. Questions such as, "Given these facts, what ideas do you have for your city or county?" can spark innovative, collective problem-solving. My fundamental belief remains: together, we know more.