The state of Virginia is banning the building of new neighborhood developments with cul-de-sacs. North Carolina and parts of Oregon are also seeking to do the same, according to The Washington Post.

Cul-de-sac neighborhoods are beloved by parents because by their very design -- there's only one way in and one way out -- they prevent motorists from racing up and down the street and endangering their children.

But with cul-de-sacs come traffic jams on nearby main access roads. Cul-de-sacs also slow first responders in the event of an emergency. Then there's the possibility that with the traffic jams, you may have to move utilities, widen streets and buy the right of way.

In short, cul-de-sacs can be costly for local municipalities.

So if you view it from a strictly economic standpoint, Virginia is doing the right thing. The preferred alternative to cul-de-sacs is a grid design.

Most Mormon cities in the Mountain States are laid out on a grid. Usually every fifth street will be a through street. That ensures the other surrounding streets remain quiet and it deters their use as cut-throughs.

At a time when state and local governments are under financial strain, look for more focus on trying to eliminate the building of new cul-de-sac neighborhoods. Clark's just waiting to see if the ban will increase home values of existing cul-de-sac neighborhoods in jurisdictions that go this route.