How is land use measured?
In Washington, land use is measured by the amount of land that is set aside for particular purposes. Land use is typically divided into three categories, rural, urban, and suburban. Rural land is generally used for farming or other agricultural activities, while urban and suburban land is generally developed for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes. Within these three categories, land is further divided into categories such as residential, commercial, industrial, conservation, open space, and institutional. The amount of land allocated for each of these categories depends on the local government’s land use plan. This plan outlines the amount of land needed for each land use purpose and sets limits on the amount of land available for development within each category. In addition to this land use plan, Washington state law also requires that certain areas be protected from development, such as wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas. These areas are protected under the state’s Shoreline Management Act and can only be developed with a permit granted by the local government. Land use is also measured by the amount of resources that are available to support these uses. For example, water resources, energy resources, and infrastructure such as roads and sewers are all taken into account when measuring land use. The amount of land available for each purpose dictates the amount of resources that must be utilized to support it.
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