Land Use Planning and Exurbanization in the Rural Mountain West

Exurban development is especially prevalent in rural areas of the Mountain West, where rapid population growth has led to the conversion of vast amounts of rural land and natural open space. This article argues that traditional approaches to land use planning hasten the pace of exurbanization in rural areas of the region. Building on this premise, the article presents a conceptual process-based model that links land use planning with exurbanization and uses the model in an empirical study of exurban development in Cochise County, Arizona. The analysis confirms expectations, with conventional planning approaches unintentionally fostering exurbanization and fueling the conversion of natural lands. Several principles are identified that should inform new approaches to land use planning in rural areas.