C. Growth Management Goals, Findings, and Policies <br />To effectively control the potential for urban sprawl and scattered urbanization, compact growth <br />and the urban growth boundary (UGB)are, and will remain, the primary <br />growth management techniques for directing geographic patterns of urbanization in the <br />community. In general, this means the filling in of vacant and underutilized lands, as well as <br />redevelopment inside the UGB. <br />Outward expansion of the... - joetedrban e~viae area, as defined. -d=;dGle-ssa+-yUGB, will <br />occur only when it is proven necessary according to the policies set forth in this Metro Plan, <br />'particularly in this element. <br />Goals <br />Use urban, urbanizable, and rural lands'efficien.tly. <br />2. Encourage. and efficient conversion of land from rural to arban rises in response <br />to urban needs taking. into account metropolitan and statewide goals. <br />3. Protect rural lands best suited for non-urban. uses from incompatible urban encroachment. <br />Findings and Policies <br />Findings <br />Many metropolitan areas within the United States that have not implemented geographic <br />growth management techniques suffer from scattered or leapfrog urban growth that <br />leaves vacant and underutilized land in its path and encourages isolated residential <br />developments far from metropolitan centers. Until adoption of the 1990 Plan's urban <br />service area concept, portions of this metropolitan area were characterized by these <br />phenomena, <br />2. Beneficial results of compact urban growth include: <br />a. Use of most vacant leftover parcels where utilities assessed to abutting property <br />owners are already in place, <br />b. Protection of productive forest lands, agricultural lands, and open space from <br />premature urban development. <br />C. More efficient use of limited fuel energy resources and greater use of bicycle and <br />pedestrian facilities due to less miles of streets and less.auto dependence than <br />otherwise would be required. <br />II-C- I <br />Laurel Ridge Record (Z 15-5) Page 129 <br />