RIVERSIDE-SAN BERNARDINO, OXNARD-VENTURA SPRAWLING.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

The Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area is the most sprawling metro region in the nation, while the Ventura-Oxnard area ranks ninth on the list, according to a study by growth experts.

People flocking inland from Pacific coastal communities to more-affordable homes were behind stretched-out development in the Riverside-San Bernardino area, Smart Growth America researchers said Thursday.

``What we hope people will gain is a better understanding of how sprawl affects people's quality of life,'' said Don Chen, Smart Growth's executive director.

The group promotes the protection of open space, neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing and more transportation options.

More sprawling metro areas tend to have more fatal traffic crashes and worse pollution, in large part because of an increased reliance on cars to get to work and do errands, the report said. People drive more miles and mass-transit options are often limited.

Ventura County's ninth-place ranking overall was blamed on lackluster downtowns and civic areas - problems its cities are successfully tackling, said Steve Kinney, president of the Economic Development Corp. of Oxnard.

Developing vibrant city centers already is happening, said Kinney, citing the newly revitalized downtown Ventura, as well as efforts in Camarillo and Thousand Oaks.

Oxnard, too, was making a effort but he conceded, ``it still hasn't gotten cooking yet.''

The county was recognized for results of its slow-growth measures, such as the Save Open-space and Agricultural Resources measure - which allows open space and farmlands to be rezoned for development only with voters' approval - forces cities to build vertically.

Ventura City Planning Manager Dennis Mackay said both the city and county have focused on implementing measures to limit sprawl. He said the city was promoting development projects that would be built in existing neighborhoods.

The Smart Growth report ranked areas by population and housing density; the mix of homes, jobs and services; the availability and use of town centers or downtowns; and the street network.

To fight sprawl, the report said, planners should focus on reviving abandoned properties and neglected communities, create places where homes and businesses are in close proximity and encourage development in already built-up areas.

Kevin Palmer, economic development manager for the city of Riverside, said area officials have already looked at such things.

``These are things that cities have practiced for many years, and we are pleased that the counties have recognized these issues, too,'' Palmer said.

The Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area had a big growth spurt in the 1980s as people from Los Angeles and other communities closer to the coast came inland to buy less-expensive homes. A housing and business boom followed the recession of the early 1990s.

The rankings were based on analysis of federal data for 83 metropolitan areas around the country.

GROWTH AREAS

--The 10 most sprawling metropolitan areas in the country, according to an analysis of 83 metro areas by Smart Growth America. Cities were given scores based on four factors: residential density; the mix of homes, jobs and services; the strength or use of a downtown or town center; and the network of streets.

1. Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.

2. Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, N.C.

3. Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

4. Atlanta

5. Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.

6. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach, Fla.

7. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk-Danbury, Conn.

8. Knoxville, Tenn.

9. Oxnard-Ventura, Calif.

10. Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas

SOURCE: Smart Growth America

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GROWTH AREAS (see text)