Proposed urban and rural reserves

About the area

This area lies in both Washington and Clackamas counties and is bordered on the southwest by Yamhill and Marion counties. Its inner edge lies along the urban growth boundaries of Sherwood, Wilsonville and Tualatin. A number of creeks flow through varied topography that includes parts of Parrett Mountain, the Chehalem Mountains, the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge and the Tonquin Geologic Area. The area includes wooded parcels, farms, orchards, nurseries and stables. Rural residential development is scattered throughout. Most lots are between 10 to 20 acres. Larger parcels are scattered throughout the area.

Proposed reserves

Areas proposed for either urban or rural designation by Metro and Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties

5A urban

This small 123 acre-area lies between Sherwood on the south and the Tualatin River floodplain to the north. Here the floodplain is part of the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge, an important natural landscape feature that defines the extent of urbanization from the cities of Sherwood and Tualatin. This strip of land is the last remaining area north of Sherwood that is suitable for urbanization. The area includes farm lands and wooded areas along the Tualatin River. It is considered foundation agricultural land.

5B urban

This 1,280-acre area extends south from Southwest Lebeau Road along the west edge of Sherwood to Southwest Chapman Road and Highway 99W. Its relatively flat topography and roads that connect to the Sherwood street network make it highly suitable for urbanization. The area includes a broad mix of agricultural operations including field crops, orchards, nurseries, pastures and stables together with forested areas, mixed shrub/scrubland and rural housing. It is considered foundation agricultural land in the northern one-third and important agricultural land in the southern two-thirds of the area.

5C rural

Most of the area west and south of 5A urban and 5B urban is proposed for rural reserve designation. The area is a mix of rural residences, woodlots and farms of varying sizes. It is broken up by several creeks mostly running north and south. Almost all of the area is identified as important agricultural land.

5D urban

This 439-acre area lies south of Sherwood, southeast of the intersection of Highway 99W and Southwest Chapman Road. The city has completed a plan for the Brookman Road area immediately to the north that was added to the urban growth boundary in 2002, indicating that the city can extend urban services to this larger area to the south. There are transportation improvements planned for the arterials in the general area between Highway 99W and Interstate 5 to provide better access to those highways which would support the future urbanization of this area. The area primarily consists of rural residences, a variety of small woodlands, and small scale farming operations. It is considered conflicted agricultural land.

5E options

This 515-acre area has rolling topography with a few relatively flat areas. It connects to 5F urban (described below) to the north and east and to 5D urban to the west. Rock Creek and Southwest Baker, Southwest McConnell and Southwest Morgan roads pass through the area, one or more of which could form a southern boundary. The area is considered conflicted agricultural land. The Tonquin Geologic Area, an important natural landscape feature, lies on the east end of the area.

The area that lies north of Rock Creek and Southwest Morgan Road is being considered for designation as urban reserve because Sherwood has identified this portion as suitable for urbanization and because one of the proposed transportation improvements between Highway 99W and I-5 would pass through the area. The Tonquin Geologic Area is also being considered for designation as rural reserve with the reserve area possibly broadened due to the challenges of urbanization in that area. This would separate this area from 5F urban.

5F urban

This 568-acre area lies between Tualatin and Sherwood in Washington County north of the Clackamas county line. It is a mix of forested and open lands with some industrial areas and federally managed lands. It includes a quarry along its eastern edge. The cities of Tualatin and Sherwood identify it as suitable for potential future industrial development and freight movement, especially if improvements are made to arterial roads creating better access to those highways. It is considered conflicted agricultural land.

5G urban

This 120-acre area lies west of Wilsonville, north of Southwest Tooze Road and east of Graham's Ferry Road. Its proximity to services and connection to the city's transportation network make it suitable for urbanization. The Tonquin Geological Area, an important natural landscape feature, lies mainly to the north and northwest, but also extends along Coffee Lake Creek to the east. The geological area forms a natural boundary to urbanization from Wilsonville and from Sherwood on the northwest. It is considered conflicted agricultural land.

5H urban

This small 63-acre area lies south of Wilsonville Road and west of Willamette Way. Metro's Graham Oaks Regional Park is adjacent to the north providing excellent recreational opportunities for nearby residents. Relatively flat topography and access to urban services from Wilsonville make this area suitable for urbanization. The Corral Creek riparian area forms a natural boundary to the west. It is considered important agricultural land.

5I rural

Between the Wilsonville and Sherwood urban growth boundaries and the Marion and Yamhill county lines, much of the area not discussed above is proposed for designation as a rural reserve. It contains a number of forested stream corridors and important natural landscape features including the Tonquin Geologic Area, Parrett and Chehalem mountains and the floodplain of the Tualatin River. A limited area along that portion of Highway 99W heading southwest from Sherwood toward Newberg is characterized by rural residential development and not proposed for rural reserves. The area is a mix of rural residences, woodlots and farms of varying sizes. Varied topography reduces suitability for urbanization. This area is considered mostly important agricultural land with some conflicted agricultural land to the north near Highway 99W.