Parcels intended for public use or lots that have limited building potential are not included. The 1995-99 inventory of vacant buildable lands indicates that none of the county s UGAs have yet come close to reaching the levels shown above. At the same time, however, population growth has been greater than expected, resulting in a variety of opinions about what should be done. Some people say UGAs should be expanded to allow more building now because they believe tight boundaries are placing upward pressure on land prices, increasing the cost of housing, and slowing economic growth. Others think there is enough buildable land and roads within existing boundaries to accommodate projected population.
Some people believe tight boundaries help maintain the county s character and livability.
Others are concerned about the potential for increased density in their communities. Some people think rural lifestyles and rural experiences are choices that should remain available. Others believe that farming, forestry, and other rural land uses are no longer economical, and that more of our growing population should be housed in rural areas. For example, longer commute times indicate lower levels of service. If population growth increases, new roads will be needed to maintain current levels of service.