A Build-Out Analysis is a valuable tool to help a community understand the impacts of development based on current land use regulations. Once a community understands these implications and has a clear vision for its future, it can determine if current regulations meet their needs or if alternatives should be investigated and additional steps taken to address their goals.

The Cost of Community Services Study is a tool used to demonstrate the cost to provide town services on a land use basis. The American Farmland Trust developed the model 15 years ago, and it has been used across the country to evaluate the differences between revenue generated and services required by specific land uses.

In 2007, the town of Lebanon, Connecticut, undertook a build-out analysis to understand the impacts of development based on current land use regulation, inlcuding the fiscal impact of this development. The study determines that in 10 years, with a 10 percent growth rate, the town would need to increase taxes to cover an additional $2.2 million to community services required by new growth.