Urban sprawl has several definitions.
In general, it is considered the spreading out of new development onto land adjacent to existing development. Sprawl is said to occur when low-density developments are created around cities away from where people have traditionally shopped, worked, played and studied, thus creating a need for transportation between homes and activities.
Although the very words have negative connotations, how the public views sprawl often depends on whether new development is done in an attractive, well-planned manner. For those with an environmental focus, the urbanization of land is always a threat to the natural environment and to quality of life in general.