From Sprawl to Smart Growth: Analysis of Spatial Development Pattern of Rural Settlements (Case Study: Akhond Mahale and Soleyman Abad Villages, Tonekabon Area)

Spatial expression of increase in earth planet population as the consequence of industrialization, improving the living standards, and reducing the amount of epidemic diseases in the past century, has been the physical-spatial development of urban and rural settlements. This transformation, especially during past decade, beside the technological advances, has shown rapid trend and has made the subject of achievement to optimal pattern and sustain a great challenge for physical-spatial development of mankind settlement (spatially in developing word). This subject will be crucial in countries such as Iran with hot and dry climate characteristics. Since a considerable part of urban and rural settlements are located in plains and areas with fertile soil and water, the socioeconomic life of residents depends, directly and indirectly, on desirable soil and water resources.
Based on the aforementioned facts, rural settlement of Tonekabon area has been under many transformations due to the internal and external factors in the past decades As a result, a scattered and fragmented spatial system has been formed which caused us to witness physical development of this settlement and buried high-quality agricultural land under construction. Actually proximity of this area to the great metropolis of the region (Tehran, Karaj and Ghazvin) has been lead to the formation of population and capital flows to the Tonekabon area. The outcome of this has led to excluding agricultural lands from production process and unplanned development and distribution of rural settlements.
Due to the forces and factors which have affected this phenomena, the aim of this article is recognition and analysis of these forces and factors, and prioritization principles of smart growth to perform based on the spatial- temporal characteristics of rural settlements.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK : Rural settlement is considered as a part of spatial system, which in the recent decade is facing excessive growth due to transformation obtained from external forces and internal factors. This has caused these rural communities to meet the broad challenge of maintaining rural character and also support the economic growth and opportunity; thus they require means that can be adjusted to reflect the diversity of rural communities and that can be applied to both expanding and contracting economies. Smart growth is an approach in the frame of its goals and methods be able to protect the environment and rural social dynamics.
The research method was descriptive-analytic. The methods and tools used for data gathering were library and field methods, questionnaires, and maps. Statistical population of this research was household’s residents of Akhond Mahale and Soleyman Abad villages which consisted of 894 villagers in 2011. Indicators examined in this study included: Economical (employment and investment), social (population and migration), and cultural (separation and car acquisition) forces and factors.
The results of this research show that, change in population, entrance of immigrants with financial funds, change in the employment structure, investment of different kinds of residents, and the increase of private cars are the effective factors in sprawl phenomena. Directing the growth into the rural region, strengthening rural- urban linkage, and strengthening rural services and facilities are the main prioritization of smart growth in the rural settlements under study.