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Making the Greatest Place

Planning and conservation  ›  Planning library  ›  Making the Greatest Place

The Metro Council works with local leaders and people throughout the region to create sustainable and prosperous communities for present and future generations.

When someone asks you why you live in the Portland metropolitan area, what do you say? Chances are you love this place – and choose to live here – for many reasons. Whether your roots are generations deep or newly planted, you are part of a community that treasures the nature around us, the neighborhoods and businesses that sustain us and our shared commitment to preserving our quality of life.

The quality of life we enjoy here is the result of conscious decisions and hard choices made by citizen leaders, business owners and elected officials to protect farms and forest land, preserve the character of single-family neighborhoods, revitalize commercial districts, invest in transportation options and safeguard our clean air, clean water and healthy ecosystems. As our population continues to grow, the Metro Council is committed to protecting the things we love about this place and charting a wise course for the future.

Key decisions in 2009 and 2010

Making the Greatest Place is a set of policy and investment decisions aimed at protecting our valuable farm and forest land while maintaining and investing in our town and regional centers, transportation corridors and employment areas. Key decisions in fall 2009 and throughout 2010 include:

• adoption of the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan that outlines investments in multiple modes of transportation aimed at supporting economic growth, reducing global warming, and enhancing vibrant communities where residents can choose to walk for pleasure and to meet their everyday needsLearn more
• designation of urban and rural reserves to identify which areas outside of the current urban growth boundary will be set aside to accommodate future population and employment growth over the next 40 to 50 years and which areas will be excluded from growth over that same periodLearn more
• commitment to local policies and investments that will help the region better accommodate growth within its centers, corridors and employment areas over the next 20 years, as described in the urban growth report.Learn more

Related Documents

• Making the Greatest Place brochure 2.2M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published August 21, 2009
• Our Place in the World: Global challenges, regional strategies, homegrown solutions 6.0M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published October 1, 2008

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2035 Regional Transportation Plan

Learn about the adopted update to the region's plan for a safe and reliable transportation system. View ordinances, supporting documents and other publications developed throughout this four-year effort.

Urban and rural reserves

Read about the unique collaborative process the region used to choose the best places for future growth, identifying lands that won't be urbanized for the next 50 years as well as areas best suited to accommodate future urban development.

Urban growth report

The urban growth report helps inform a regional vision for how and where to grow over the next 20 years.

Local aspirations for growth

Learn more about the aspirations of local communities in the region to create and sustain healthy and vital places to live, work and play.

Regional Infrastructure Analysis

As the region’s population grows, one of the challenges to successful implementation of the 2040 Growth Concept is the development and maintenance of critical infrastructure necessary to build and enhance great communities.

Regional vision: The 2040 Growth Concept

This region is admired across the nation for its innovative approach to planning for the future. Our enviable quality of life can be attributed in no small measure to our stubborn belief in the importance of thinking ahead.