As decisions near, communities around the region are grappling with challenging choices for future growth and future land protection. Read local news stories about reserves from across the Portland metropolitan area.
Washington County scales back urban reserve expectations
The Forest Grove News-Times, Nov 27, 2009
Washington County leaders are now expecting that less than half of the 34,000 acres they've proposed to set aside for urban reserves will pass muster with the neighboring counties or the regional government Metro. As the now years-long process to chart the region's growth for the next 40 or 50 years is winding to a close (the county-to-county talks are set to wrap up in December), Oregon's second-most populous county is facing pressure from without and within to pare back its land grab. Go to the article
Tualatin's stern letter to Metro: Don't urbanize Stafford
The Times, Nov 27, 2009
No urbanization in the Stafford area. That's the message, in very clear terms, behind a letter that the cities of Tualatin and West Linn have agreed to send to Metro regarding the designation of the area around Southwest Borland Road, more than 3,900 acres, as an urban reserve. On Monday, Nov. 23, the city council adopted a joint resolution to send the strongly worded letter to Metro, the regional government that is in the process of defining urban and rural areas which will shape development for the next several decades. The letter comes after Clackamas County recommended the Stafford area for urbanization, and as Metro moves forward with considering the land as a designated place for dense, commercial development.