Staying Inside the Lines: Urban Growth Boundaries

Planners can use urban growth boundaries to meet state and local growth goals. This report shows how urban growth boundaries can concentrate new development within mapped areas to ensure efficient delivery of urban services, preserve more open land and farmland, and prevent the costly and detremental effects of urban sprawl. The report defines various types of urban growth areas, discusses the criteria for mapping boundaries for these areas, and tells how to make the boundaries work. It features case studies of communities in four states.