[Willie Green]

The uptown development consortium is bashing "urban sprawl" constantly, pushing laws to force businesses into the central part of the city.

I don't know of any law that is capable of "forcing" businesses into a city.
Usually such attempts have the opposite effect.
OTOH, cities often offer incentives, subsidies or other enticements to attract businesses to their location. Such enticements include adequate services such as fire/police protection and efficient transportation systems.

[Poohbah]

I don't know of any law that is capable of "forcing" businesses into a city.

Simple: you just refuse business permits to any business outside of the core.