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The main problems with development inside urban growth boundaries (UGBs) include:

• Development at lower than planned densities
• Dispersed development in urbanizable areas
• Inconsistent system development charges, impact fees, and exactions across jurisdictions
• Overburdened public facilities and development in areas lacking the full range of urban services
• Development designs that discourage future infill or redevelopment at higher intensities
• A lack of infill and redevelopment in older urban areas

The causes of these problems include:

• The fragmented system of decision-making authority inside UGBs
• The lack of minimum standards applied to urban services on a regional basis
• Insufficient funds for public facility investment
• Insufficient coordination between urban service providers and land use planners
• Inflexible and often counterproductive development regulations

Seven Criteria for UGB Expansion

Establishment and change of the boundaries shall be based upon considerations of the following factors:

1. Demonstrated need to accommodate long-range urban population growth requirements consistent with LCDC goals;
   
2. Need for housing, employment opportunities, and livability;
   
3. Orderly and economic provision for public facilities and services;
   
4. Maximum efficiency of land uses within and on the fringe of the existing urban area;
   
5. Environmental, energy, economic and social consequences;
   
6. Retention of agricultural land as defined, with Class I being the highest priority for retention and Class VI the lowest priority; and,
   
7. Compatibility of the proposed urban uses with nearby agricultural activities.

Conversion of Urbanizable Lands

Land within the boundaries separating urbanizable land from rural land shall be considered available over time for urban uses.

1. Orderly, economic provision for public facilities and services;
   
2. Availability of sufficient land for the various uses to insure choices in the market place;
   
3. LCDC goals or the acknowledged comprehensive plan; and,
   
4. Encouragement of development within urban areas before conversion of urbanizable areas.

Goal 14 Planning Guidelines

1. Plans should designate sufficient amounts of urbanizable land to accommodate the need for further urban expansion, taking into account (1) the growth policy of the area, (2) the needs of the forecast population, (3) the carrying capacity of the planning area, and (4) open space and recreational needs.
   
2. The size of the parcels of urbanizable land that are converted to urban land should be of adequate dimension so as to maximize the utility of the land resource and enable the logical and efficient extension of services to such parcels.
   
3. Plans providing for the transition from rural to urban land use should take into consideration as to a major determinant the carrying capacity of the air, land and water resources of the planning area. The land conservation and development actions provided for by such plans should not exceed the carrying capacity of such resources

Goal 14 Implementation Guidelines

1. The type, location and phasing of public facilities and services are factors which should be utilized to direct urban expansion.
   
2. The type, design, phasing and location of major public transportation facilities (i.e., all modes: air, marine, rail, mass transit, highways, bicycle and pedestrian) and improvements thereto are factors which should be utilized to support urban expansion into urbanizable areas and restrict it from rural areas.
   
3. Financial incentives should be provided to assist in maintaining the use and character of lands adjacent to urbanizable areas.
   
4. Local land use controls and ordinances should be mutually supporting, adopted and enforced to integrate the type, timing and location of public facilities and services in a manner to accommodate increased public demands as urbanizable lands become more urbanized.
   
5. Additional methods and devices for guiding urban land use should include but not be limited to the following:
• tax incentives and disincentives;
• multiple use and joint development practices;
• fee and less-than-fee acquisition techniques; and capital improvement programming.
6. 6. Plans should provide for a detailed management program to assign respective implementation roles and responsibilities to those governmental bodies operating in the planning area and having interests in carrying out the goal.

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This page maintained by Bob Parker
February 26, 2002