The borders between urbanized areas and rural areas tend to fade, often because of interdependencies that develop there. This is what we found on the urbanization gap between Bordeaux metropolitan area and Arcachon agglomeration. In the framework of a regional research, we questioned these interdependent relations to understand and describe the attractiveness of rural areas. Two analysis levels relating to the dynamics of development of fringe territories were employed : strategies of urbanization through an interpretation of planning documents, and economic tools of public action on forest areas. Thus it appears differentiated territorial strategies depending on endogenous and exogenous pressures at the municipal scale. In this paper, we propose feedbacks on the method of analysis to provide perspective and a critical reading in understanding the mechanisms of territorial development.