Exurban growth inside the urban growth boundary? An examination of development in Oregon cities

Rebecca Lewis and Robert Parker

Growth and Change, 2021, vol. 52, issue 2, 885-908

Abstract: Oregon has relied on urban growth boundaries (UGBs) to contain growth in incorporated cities since it established a statewide planning program in 1973. Oregon state law requires that UGBs have enough land to accommodate 20 years of population and employment growth. Land inside the UGB is not immediately available for urban development until it is annexed and urban level infrastructure is available. This study focuses on policies and development patterns in the “urbanizable area”––land within the unincorporated areas inside the UGB that is reserved for future urban use. We examined planning documents, conducted GIS analysis, and administered a survey in 29 cities in five case study counties in Oregon. Our threefold analysis examined: (a) the agreements for managing growth in the urbanizable area; (b) trends in development and density in the urbanizable area, and (c) perceptions of managing growth from planning directors. Results show that development at low densities (around 1.5 dwelling units per acre) is occurring within the urbanizable area. These results have important implications for future development patterns and UGB expansions affecting rural areas. Low‐density development inside the UGB may constrain available land supply, cause more frequent UGB expansions, and lead to noncontiguous, leapfrog development.

Date: 2021
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