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Urban growth report

Planning and conservation  ›  Regional planning and policy  ›  Community Investment Strategy  ›  Urban growth report

The urban growth report helps inform a regional vision for how and where to grow over 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. This analysis is required by Oregon law to be updated every five years and forms the basis for decisions by the Metro Council and local governments on how best to manage growth. The Metro Council accepted the current urban growth report on Dec. 10, 2009, and submitted it to the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission.
Learn more about the December 2009 decision

The 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?

Throughout 2010, the Metro Council worked closely with local governments to identify policy actions and investments that can focus growth and economic activity into the urban centers, transportation corridors and employment areas that are already inside the urban growth boundary. In December 2010, the Metro Council determined that these actions and investments are sufficient to accommodate most of the next 20 years' worth of growth. The Metro Council may also consider a possible expansion of the urban growth boundary in 2011.

Employment and residential needs

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.

Housing needs analysis

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.

Download the files

If any of these files are too large for you to download or if you would prefer a printed copy of the report, call 503-797-1562 for assistance.

• Urban growth report: 2009-2030 employment and residential, January 2010 13.5M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010
• Appendix 2 Documentation of MetroScope scenario assumptions 709K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010
• Appendix 3 Cluster forecast (methodology and results) 59K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010
• Appendix 4 Large employer/large lot analysis (methodology and results) 526K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010
• Appendix 5 Multi-tenant (business park)/large lot analysis (methodology and results) 32K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010
• Appendix 6 Residential capacity methodology 66K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010
• Appendix 7 Housing needs analysis subarea profiles 2.1M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010
• Appendix 8 Needed housing data tables 100K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010
• Appendix 9 Residential refill study (2001 to 2006) 1.8M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010
• Appendix 10 Report on past performance (related to six desired outcomes) 786K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010
• Appendix 11 E.D. Hovee consultant team products 6.5M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010
• Appendix 12 Population and employment forecast 3.2M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010
• Appendix 13 Capacity definitions 453K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 14, 2010

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