Final answer:
New residential areas that have developed beyond the suburbs are called exurbs, typically populated by wealthier families seeking more space. Suburban sprawl is the outward expansion of these areas, leading to increased resource usage and environmental impact. New Urbanism aims to address these issues by creating mixed-use, transit-oriented communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
New residential areas developing on the metropolitan fringe, which have not grown into suburbs, are called exurbs. These communities arise farther out than the suburbs and are populated by residents of high socioeconomic status seeking more space and a quieter lifestyle compared to the typical suburban area.
While suburbs are closer to the city and offer a compromise between urban and rural living, exurbs are typically even further away and tend to offer more privacy and space, often resulting in lengthier commutes for those who work in the city.
Suburban sprawl is the expansion of suburban or exurban communities into previously rural areas. This often creates traffic congestion and increases the use of natural resources, such as petroleum, which then contributes to environmental concerns like carbon emissions.
Political and economic factors, including land developers' relationships with politicians and the desire for financial gain, contribute to the continuous growth of these areas, sometimes with little regard for the resulting infrastructure challenges or environmental impact.
The concept of New Urbanism seeks to counter the issues associated with suburban sprawl by emphasizing the development of transit-oriented, mixed-use neighborhoods that foster a walkable, community-focused environment within urban cores or suburban settings in decline.