[OSM-talk] Area-type objects and ways along its boundaries

[Nathan Edgars II]

>I am confused, what is the preferred approach to map boundaries of areas,
>that in reality are bounded by a street or another way. Whether to draw the
>boundary over this way (possibly using the same nodes), or to draw them in
>parallel but close to this way?

Depends what the way is. If it's a street, the area most likely stops
at the right-of-way line, and does not extend to the middle of the
street, so it would be incorrect to extend the area into the street.
On the other hand, if it's something like a fence or wall that forms
the de facto edge of the area, it probably should be connected (if not
using the same way with a relation for the area).

If the area is an administrative boundary (or a useless
census-designated place), it shouldn't be joined to the way, even if
it's drawn along it. Boundaries (at least in the US) are usually
defined such that neither minor nor major realignments of highways
will affect them.