The Metro Council will take final action on Thursday to adopt the last piece of an historic 50-year plan for protecting farm and forest land while allowing for additional housing and jobs in limited areas outside the current urban growth boundary and focusing additional investment and redevelopment in existing communities.
The ordinance will establish the urban and rural reserves map for Washington County in Metro’s code along with the findings that support those reserves. The proposed map is the product of nearly four years’ effort on the part of Metro and Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, plus citizens, land owners, business leaders, city and county officials, farmers and others to allow for sufficient land needed to support future growth while protecting farms and forests that contribute to the local economy and define the character of the region.
Last October the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) approved urban and rural reserve maps for Clackamas and Multnomah counties but did not approve the map proposed for Washington County, citing concerns about potential development on farmland north of Cornelius and in areas north of Forest Grove. LCDC asked Washington County and Metro to revise the map to address those concerns. LCDC allowed enough flexibility for the two governments to replace the lost urban reserve acreage while ensuring continued protection of valuable farm and forest lands.
The revised proposal includes approximately 13,500 acres of urban reserves. Combined with more than 14,000 acres of urban reserves in Clackamas and Multnomah counties, this proposal provides an overview of areas that are best suited to provide for additional jobs and housing as they are needed over the next 50 years while supporting continued growth and investment in existing cities and neighborhoods.
The Metro Council welcomes public comment and testimony on the proposed ordinance. The Council meeting begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at Metro Regional Center.
If the ordinance is adopted on Thursday, the revised urban and rural reserves proposal for Washington County will go back to LCDC for review and approval. It is expected that LCDC will consider the Washington County reserves package at its meeting in Portland in August.