Metro takes final action to protect farm and forest land, guide development for next 50 years
News release: June 10, 2010
Contact: Karen Kane, 503-797-1942, Karen.Kane@oregonmetro.gov
The Metro Council today took final action on a years-long process that guides regional land use for the next five decades. In what many described as a historic moment, Council designated 28,615 acres of urban reserves around the region. For the next fifty years, when Metro considers expanding the urban growth boundary, the focus will be on these lands.
By law, the three counties of the Portland metropolitan region - Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington - must designate rural reserves at the same time. Rural reserves are lands that will not be considered for urban development for the next half century. Metro has worked with the counties for three years to identify lands suitable for development and to determine the region's most important farms, forests and natural areas. The four agencies reached initial agreements on a regional map of urban and rural reserves in February. Clackamas and Multnomah county commissions passed ordinances in May designating their rural reserves. The Washington County Commission anticipates designating rural reserves June 15.
The Council passed today's urban reserve ordinance 5 to 2, with Councilors Rod Park and Robert Liberty dissenting. Both councilors objected to the scale of urban reserves in Washington County on what Councilor Park described as the best farmland in Oregon and perhaps in the world. Councilor Park specifically objected to the inclusion of lands north of Cornelius.
Councilors Harrington, Hosticka and Collette acknowledged the challenges in reaching a regional agreement and that some compromises were necessary. Councilor Hosticka emphasized that this is not an urban growth decision, but establishment of reserves for the future. In addition to providing long term certainty for urban planning, rural reserve designations protect 266,954 acres of farms, forests and natural areas from urban development pressures. The reserves decision is intended to provide long term certainty to property owners surrounding the current boundary and to focus the region's limited develop funds on lands already inside the boundary.
The urban and rural reserves package from Metro and the three counties will be reviewed by the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission. Its final decision expected in October.
Metro, the regional government that serves 1.5 million people who live in the 25 cities and three counties of the Portland metropolitan area, provides planning and other services that protect the nature and livability of our region.
Related Links
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.