Extended abstract:Introduction:In addition to negative environmental and economic impacts of sprawl in cities, the phenomenon leads to high rate of social costs due to neighborhood movement and formation of suburbs. Urban sprawl or vertical expansion with new constructions around city can cause socio-economic damages and environmental destruction in cities. Jane Jacobs in the death and life of great American cities addresses security issues, spatial and physical deterrent factors of cities and neighborhoods. In this present study, we have explored Maragheh city. Despite population changes of Maragheh in different periods, the city is faced with turbulence and changes in urban growth. However, population of Maragheh in 45 years (1966-2011) increased 2.7 times (Iran Statistic center, 2011), in turn the area of the city at the same period increased 16.5 times and faster than its population growth (extracted and calculated by author based on detailed plan and Iran statistic center data, 2009). This has resulted in an imbalance between area and population growth in each period of urban growth. This pattern of physical growth of this city tends to be sprawl expansion. It seems that this form of city expansion have caused socio-economic impacts, especially undesirable environmental impacts such as agriculture land use changes, air and soil pollution, and degradation of urban green spaces. Based on these findings, suitable pattern in regard to growth and physical expansion of the city is captured by special importance and have to be considered in planning.