On Thursday, the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission approved our region’s efforts to ensure that we have the capacity to create and sustain high quality jobs while protecting farmland and investing in the public structures that will enhance our communities.
Last fall, the Metro Council completed a three-year-long effort to redefine how we plan for future growth. We didn’t just focus on meeting projected numbers of people and jobs. We focused on supporting the kinds of communities that all of us are proud to call home, and we worked hard to identify the investments in roads, parks, sidewalks, transit, trails and other public structures needed to sustain our growth.
We also made one of the smallest urban growth boundary expansions in many years while still ensuring we have enough land to support a diverse economy and provide for a wide range of housing options. This week, the regulators that review and determine whether our region’s efforts comply with state law gave their support for our new approach and the outcomes we hope to achieve.
While my colleagues and I are grateful for the state’s endorsement of our work, the heaviest lifting is yet to come. All of us in the region—elected officials, the private sector, community organizations, voters and taxpayers—need to work more effectively to ensure we can provide the necessary resources to invest in strengthening our communities and attracting jobs.
Some of our region’s most respected leaders are developing a strategic plan to invest in our public structures that support continued economic growth and development. Theinitial draft was shared with the Metro Council last week, and it provides some good ideas for how we can better invest in our region’s future. In the weeks and months ahead, I’ll be asking you for your support and engagement as our region’s leaders strive to make this an even better place to live, work and raise a family.