STAGES OF SUBURBANIZATION
The process and pattern of suburbanization is unique to each metropolitan area and is dependent upon each area's
geography, climate, economy, demographics, and form of government. While no community develops in exactly the
same way, common elements can be identified and the basic process and pattern of suburbanization can be described.
The elements necessary for suburbanization can be described as basic support elements and transitional elements.
The basic support element is undeveloped land in proximity to freeway corridors which provide accessibility and
mobility for work, shopping, and other trip purposes. Evidence of this is seen in Ohio where undeveloped land on
the periphery of existing suburbanized areas near highway interchanges is the primary locational choice for
development.
The location and capacity of the freeway corridors and interchanges is determined at the federal (FHWA), state
(ODOT), and at the regional level by the local MPO (NOACA).
Transitional elements are added over time. Zoning and land use regulations, water and sewer service, and community
facilities such as schools and safety services are some of the factors that are essential in the development of suburbs
and rural areas.
Public actions at the local government level guides the location and availability of each of the transitional factors
through a complex, decentralized, political process reflecting the multitude of local organizations and interests.
The basic support and transitional elements of suburbanization work in concert to determine the pattern of
development in Northeast Ohio. The existence of one element at the periphery of an urban area can become the
catalyst for the suburbanization process to begin and for political pressure to be directed at local decisionmakers to
provide additional services. When aggregated, these elements accelerate in an almost cyclical pattern, fostering
growth in an undeveloped area. The cycle, once started, will continue unabated until developable land is depleted
and the process starts again in another area.
The suburbanization cycle can be portrayed in seven general stages, as illustrated in Table 2-4. The baseline
conditions for suburbanization are:
- Land available for development;
- Access to the available land;
- Basic utilities;
- Lure of open space; and
- Urban "ills", both real and perceived, such as personal safety concerns, school quality, racial tensions,
property value and tax rates.
Table 2-4
Elements of Suburbanization
As outlined above, a multitude of public decisions must be made and large sums of public funds must be raised to
install utilities, improve access and to shape zoning to meet the needs of the residents, land owners, and businesses.
Although this process occurs over years in a complex, interconnected way, a community with foresight and good
planning can appropriately balance community values, cost-beneficial public expenditures, environmental concerns,
and public services delivery.
A generalized assessment of the study area's status in the stages of suburbanization framework is indicated in Table
2-5.
Table 2-5
Stages of Suburbanization |
| Community |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
| Middleburg Heights |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
| North Royalton |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
| Strongsville |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
| Brunswick |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
| Brunswick Hills Township |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
| Hinckley |
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
| Medina Township |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
| Medina City |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
| Granger |
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
| Montville |
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
| Sharon |
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
