Can cities gain authority to administer their regulations outside city boundaries within the citys urban growth area?
Counties still have the official land use authority within the unincorporated urban growth area. County-wide planning policies allow cities to influence policy direction for UGAs. Cities in this and in other states have extended their influence within the UGA through agreement within the counties. Agreements can cover matters such as joint planning within the UGA, agreement on annexation policies, adoption of city standards within the UGA, restrictions on development until urban services are in place, and city review and comment on major development within UGAs. For more information, see the MRSC Webpages on Growth Management Interlocal Agreements and Annexation and Growth Management Agreements – Revenue Sharing. • What are communities doing to phase growth within urban growth areas? A number of communities are seeking to designate higher and lower priority areas for urban development (growth tiers) generally radiating out from the growth center. Pierce County has designated three tier
