Holding The Line: Urban Containment In The United States

This paper summarizes the use and impact of three major types of urban containment policies -- urban growth boundaries, greenbelts, and urban service areas.

1 minute read

August 3, 2002, 7:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

Policies designed to deliberately control the spread of urban areas are increasing in popularity throughout the United States. Several states, and many local governments in the west, are adopting urban growth boundaries and other containment measures in their land-use planning laws and legislation. Whatever the primary purpose, it is clear that the precise impacts of containment policies are not well understood. This paper reviews the research on urban containment generally, and also examines the experience of such policies in particular metropolitan areas. It discusses some lessons learned and raises relevant research questions for practitioners as well as policymakers at the state and local level.

Thanks to Kurt Sommer

FULL STORY: Holding The Line: Urban Containment In The United States

Friday, August 2, 2002 in The Brookings Institution

Land Use United States

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