On Tuesday, Dec. 8, Metro Council President David Bragdon and Metro Councilor Carl Hosticka presented to the Metro Council a proposal intended to advance the process of designating urban and rural reserves to a successful conclusion. Their proposal substantially reflects, but does not precisely duplicate, the most recent draft products of the Core 4 group, made up of representatives of the Metro Council and the Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas county commissions.
The Bragdon-Hosticka proposal is embodied in a map identifying about 28,500 acres of proposed urban reserves and 241,000 acres of proposed rural reserves. Under the proposal, the majority of urban reserves would be contained by directly adjacent rural reserves that protect key agricultural land, forestland and natural landscape features from urbanization.
The Bragdon-Hosticka proposal was discussed by the Core 4 at its meeting on Dec. 9. While the Core 4 identified several relatively minor issues, they found substantial areas of agreement with the proposal. The major exception was in the Stafford area in Clackamas County, which remains the subject of significant disagreement. Negotiations are ongoing.
Another potential area of controversy involves the proposed designation of about 1,000 acres of urban reserves north of the City of Cornelius which would be surrounded by rural reserves. While the Core 4 did not indicate discomfort with this area being identified for potential future urbanization, farm and environmental interests have in the past vigorously opposed efforts to bring this area into the region's urban growth boundary.
Next steps
The coming week will include several key events related to the reserves designation. On Dec. 10, the Multnomah County Commission will make its recommendation following a public hearing. Later that day, the Metro Council is scheduled to consider accepting the Bragdon-Hosticka proposal in order to provide a recommendation to the Core 4. The Washington County Commission has scheduled a hearing for the evening of Dec. 15. The Core 4 is expected to make a recommendation on Dec. 16. Metro Council action on a resolution endorsing the release of a Core 4 draft is scheduled for Dec. 17. Public comment on the Core 4 proposal will be solicited in January online and in a series of open houses and hearings.