American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

What is the purpose of an Urban Growth Boundary?

1. To encourage urban sprawl

2. To limit transportation access

3. To prevent development in specified geographic areas

4. To enhance property values in rural areas

The correct answer is: To prevent development in specified geographic areas

The purpose of an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) is primarily to prevent development in specified geographic areas, making it crucial in land-use planning. By establishing a clear boundary, jurisdictions can manage urban expansion effectively, protecting rural landscapes, open spaces, and agricultural lands from encroachment by urban development. This allows for the preservation of natural resources and promotes sustainable growth patterns by concentrating development within the designated urban areas, ensuring that infrastructure and services can adequately support the population. Additionally, UGBs help facilitate more efficient land use by promoting higher density development in urban areas while limiting sprawl, which often leads to environmental degradation and increased transportation costs. By controlling the area where development can occur, UGBs support the vision of livable, walkable communities and can lead to more effective public transit systems. Contrasting options, such as encouraging urban sprawl or limiting transportation access, do not align with the fundamental intention of an Urban Growth Boundary, which seeks to direct growth in a managed way. Similarly, while enhancing property values in rural areas may be a secondary effect of UGBs, it is not the primary purpose of their establishment.