About two dozen of the region's city and county administrators met last Friday with Metro Chief Operating Officer Michael Jordan to discuss a set of recommendations he issued Aug. 10 to create livable communities, protect natural areas, support good jobs and increase efficiency. Jordan's report challenges the greater region to make smarter and more efficient public investments to develop safe, sustainable and economically prosperous communities throughout the region.
Jordan, who meets with city and county managers a few times every year to update them on activities at Metro and how they affect local governments, took this opportunity to prepare his audience for a different approach that Metro, cities and counties should take, looking for ways that public investment can pave the way for private investment and innovation to support the kinds of communities envisioned in the 2040 Growth Concept.
Jordan also discussed potential UGB expansion options described in his report, particularly in south Hillsboro for new residential development and north of Hillsboro for large-lot industrial development on sites of 50 acres or more. He noted that the UGB has been expanded by about 20,000 acres since 1998 "and we have almost nothing to show for it," as almost all population and most job growth since 1998 has located inside the area that was in the original 1979 UGB. He noted that the recommendations for UGB expansions this time around are few and come with heightened expectations that, if approved by the Metro Council, the expansion areas will see actual development occur within the next few years.