It was Michael Jordan's crowd.
Jordan, Metro’s chief operating officer, enjoyed popular support Thursday evening as residents of the agriculture-friendly Helvetia area of Washington County voiced overwhelming support Thursday night for Metro staff's 20-year growth plan and its recommendations to leave the area out of the urban growth boundary.
"The land use planning here has really become a beacon for other areas of the country," said real estate broker Susan Beck, lauding Metro's efforts as essential to bringing people to the region. "They say they move here is because of the quality of life."
That quality of life is tied to the region's farming tradition, many in attendance said.
"We must protect our rich farmland," said Steve Radke of Abundant Harvest CSA, echoing a prominent sentiment in the crowd of about 40 at Beaverton City Hall. Residents came armed with an array of graphs, maps, charts, photographs, written statements and even fresh produce to illustrate their support of agriculture and open space.
The entire Metro Council listened to about two hours of public comment on Jordan's recommendations, "Making the Greatest Place: Strategies for a sustainable and prosperous region." The report encourages channeling most growth into the existing urban growth boundary, investing in repairing and maintaining existing buildings and infrastructure, and holding Metro and it's local government partners accountable for the goals they put in place for themselves and the region.
But not everyone in attendance was in favor of designating the area as a rural reserve: Beverly Bookin, a representative of the Commercial Real Estate Economic Coalition, acknowledged she was in the minority at the hearing, but said areas for industrial and cooperate development must be made available for economic prosperity.
"The single most important ingredient for quality of life is well-paying jobs, "Bookin said. She advocated "modest and strategic" expansion of the urban growth boundary, but did not offer a specific amount of acreage that should be added.
And Jose Orozco, a member of the Cornelius Planning Commission, worried that the recommendations, if followed, could stymie economic growth in Cornelius, instead funneling it off to Beaverton.
"Please allow Cornelius to be more like its big brother," Orozco said.
It wasn't just farmers wanting to protect the area north of Highway 26 from development: locals expressed concern for white oaks, the elk population, a small but thriving equine industry and good areas for bicycling. Those factors, combined with the area's u-pick farms and other agriculture, bring tourists to the area specifically because of its rural feel.
"These businesses depend upon agritourism to be successful," said Cherry Amabisca. "Agritourism needs a rural environment."
But support of the recommendations didn't always come easily: James Just, a farmer from outside North Plains, blasted Washington County Commissioners for poor development strategies that only designated land as rural reserves that probably wouldn't be developed anyway, like floodplains. Just was fed up with having to defend his land in front of government agencies.
"It seems like there hasn't been a year gone by that our livelihood hasn't been under attack by what I perceive as greedy developers," Just said. "I resent having to be here."
Just left the hearing before hearing several in attendance say that Washington County has not yet held hearings on reserve areas and that no plans were set in stone yet.
"For all those who have landed harsh comments on Washington County, we still have time to get this right," said Dick Schouten, Washington County Commissioner.
For all the support for Jordan's plans, there was some nervousness about areas left undesignated. Farmers said investing in land that might be developed in 20 years could not be worth the trouble, especially for tree farmers, whose crops grow for years between harvests.
As the council listened to various land owners and concerned citizens, Catherine Keith, owner of Valley Vista Farm in Hillsboro, cautioned the councilors not put too much weight on any one interest.
"This decision needs to be for the good of the whole," Keith said.
– by Sean Breslin, Metro staff