What is the Urban Service Area (USA)?

    Urban Service Areas (USA) are planning tools to manage and promote sustainable growth. Their primary purpose is to reduce sprawl by limiting urban development to designated areas so that infrastructure and community services can be provided more efficiently and to reduce costs. USAs are essential when planning for a community to focus on new growth and concentrate public and private investments where services are available and will be most needed. They also preserve agricultural land, open spaces, and environmentally sensitive areas.