Why do some critics argue that smart growth slows urban sprawl rather than stopping it?

Critics of smart growth argue that the strategy fails to fully resolve the issue of urban sprawl because it does not address the fundamental necessity for cities and suburbs to expand to accommodate rising local populations.

From this perspective, while smart growth policies may successfully contain or manage development within specific boundaries, they ultimately only slow the process of outward expansion rather than stopping it entirely. Furthermore, some opponents contend that the movement's emphasis on medium- to high-density development can negatively impact biodiversity by concentrating human activity and land use, while others suggest that such policies may exacerbate road congestion and place undue burdens on existing mass transit systems.1