Comparative analysis of alternative urban integration of the municipality of Santa Maria da Feira in different municipal communities

In 2003, with the publication of law for the creation of Metropolitan Areas and Urban Communities, the municipality of Santa Maria da Feira has decided to explore alternative settings of its integration in different urban communities. A series of debates was launched according to different areas of concern: territorial, social and economic, political and cultural. According to this law, the decision rested on each municipality. The alternatives that were considered in our study were the integration in the Oporto Metropolitan Area, or in the Entre Douro e Vouga Urban Community or in the Aveiro Metropolitan Area.

The study supporting the debates provided the fundamental data for the several scenarios, which were essential for political decision-making.