Growth Management Strategy #2 | Intergovernmental Agreements
(Rural Adaptation)
Establishing Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) between municipalities and counties can help guide appropriate intensities and development patterns to urban areas where resources and infrastructure are more readily available and appropriate. Some IGAs create a tiered system that designates urban and suburban-level growth areas that are only built if annexed into the local municipality, preserving rural and cluster style development to occur along urban fringes and within rural development pockets within the county. An IGA can help create an environment that allows for sharing of resources and infrastructure, community facilities, and other elements that will help leverage development investments. To create a balanced and regional approach to development between competing communities due to access to resources or economic opportunities, some IGAs offer revenue sharing for spheres of influence, arrangements for shared infrastructure costs, as well as long-term benefits of compact, intentional growth.
This strategy helps to foster the development of affordable and attainable housing by concentrating development and investment where infrastructure and resources are readily available, thus reducing overall development costs and unintended consequences. These efforts also promote development near service centers and places of employment, which may reduce commuting costs that are factored into overall cost of living and affordability.
Community Example
Intergovernmental Agreement(s), Boulder County, Colorado
In 2003, Boulder County worked with many of their local municipal partners on the development of an IGA to plan for and regulate land uses to minimize negative impacts of new developments on rural areas near the municipality boundaries and growth areas. An important focus for this IGA is on rural preservation areas, municipal influence areas, as well as unincorporated land in the county. A multi-agency IGA requires careful coordination and collaboration between all groups involved.
Source: Super IGA and Boulder County Website