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Urban growth report

Planning and conservation  ›  Making the Greatest Place  ›  Urban growth report

The report is designed to help inform choices about how and where we want our region to grow, and it presents an analysis of the capacity of the current urban growth boundary to accommodate anticipated growth in the next 20 years.

How do you want your community to look in the future? What kinds of investments do we need to make to create jobs and provide choices in housing for future generations? The urban growth report helps people define their aspirations for their communities by forecasting how many people may be living here and how many jobs could be available in 20 years.

The urban growth report sets the stage for a regional conversation: Should we prepare for more people by investing in existing urban centers or by expanding the current urban growth boundary – or some combination of both? In either case, how do the region's cities and counties find ways to pay for new streets, roads, water lines, sewers, parks and other infrastructure?

The urban growth report focuses on the region's employment and residential needs:

• The employment section describes the types and numbers of jobs that are expected to come to this region by 2030 and the types of buildings and uses of lands they may require. It poses questions about the policy and investment choices necessary to sustain a healthy and diverse economy.
• The residential section projects how many new households may be expected by 2030 and presents questions about which policies and public investments should be implemented to accommodate those new households.

The residential component of the report also contains a Housing Needs Analysis that is intended to inform discussions about public policies and investments that can support a wide range of housing options as our population grows. The report will assist leaders in addressing new incentives for mixed-use and multifamily homes, as well as investments in transportation and other infrastructure to support efficient use of land inside the existing urban growth boundary.

The full urban growth report, executive summaries and appendices, updated in September 2009, are available to download with the recommendations from Metro's chief operating officer on strategies for a sustainable and prosperous region. The Metro Council welcomes your comments on this report. The report will guide decisions by the Metro Council and local government leaders that will shape our region and the character of its communities for years to come. Go to the report

Need assistance?

Metro land use planning
503-797-1562 | 503-797-1930 fax
2040@oregonmetro.gov

Related Links

Population and employment forecasts

Learn more about forecasts that estimate a range of possible population and employment growth for the seven-county metropolitan region by the years 2030 and 2060. The forecasts help inform public discussions about the future of the region.

Making the Greatest Place

The Metro Council is working with local leaders and people throughout the region to create sustainable and prosperous communities for present and future generations. Learn about key decisions that will be made in 2009 and 2010.