Ordinance No. 20319 - Laserfiche WebLink

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C. Growth Management Goals, Findings, and Policies To effectively control the potential for urban sprawl and scattered urbanization, compact growth and the urban ~rowth boundary (UGB)_service area concepts are, and will remain, the primary growth management techniques for directing geographic patterns of urbanization in the community. In general, this means the filling in of vacant and underutilized lands, as well as redevelopment inside the UGB. Outward expansion of the projected urban service area, as defined/n the GlossaryUGB, will occur only when it is proven necessary according to the policies set forth in this Metro Plan, particularly in this element. Goals 1. Use urban, urbanizable, and rural lands'efficiently. 2. Encourage orderly and efficient conversion of land from rural to urban uses in response to urban needs, taking into account metropolitan and statewide goals. 3. Protect rural lands best suited for non-urban uses from incompatible urban encroachment. Findings and Policies Findings 1. Many metropolitan areas within the United States that have not implemented geographic growth management techniques suffer from scattered or leapfrog urban growth that leaves vacant and underutilized land in its path and encourages isolated residential developments far from metropolitan centers. Until adoption of the 1990 Plan's urban service area concept, portions of this metropolitan area were characterized by these phenomena. 2. Beneficial results of compact urban growth include: a. Use of most vacant leftover parcels where utilities assessed to abutting property owners are already in place. b. Protection of productive forest lands, agricultural lands, and open space from premature urban development. c. More efficient use of limited fuel energy resources and greater use of bicycle and pedestrian facilities due to less miles of streets and less auto dependence than otherwise would be required. II-C-1