What is an urban growth boundary and its intended effect?

• A. A zoning boundary that restricts outward growth to preserve farmland and focus development inward.
• B. A boundary that promotes unlimited expansion.
• C. A boundary that has no impact on land use.
• D. A boundary used to separate industrial zones.

Answer: (A)

An urban growth boundary sets a geographic limit on where urban development can occur, with the aim of containing sprawl, protecting farmland and natural areas, and guiding growth to be more compact and connected to existing infrastructure. This is why the best description is a boundary that restricts outward growth to preserve farmland and focus development inward, helping to make development more efficient, support public transit, and reduce infrastructure costs. It isn’t about unlimited expansion, and it does have a meaningful impact on land use by directing where new development happens. It also isn’t simply about separating industrial zones, which misses the broader purpose of guiding overall metropolitan growth.