Our region’s commitment to creating good jobs now and in the future, protecting our farms, forests and natural areas, and making the most of our existing roads, bridges, parks and other public structures received an important acknowledgement today.
The state of Oregon yesterday gave our region the first-ever approval for an innovative and smarter approach to land use planning, called Urban and Rural Reserves.
It wasn’t easy, but together your mayors, city councilors and county commissioners agreed to designate more than 28,256 acres of land for new homes and jobs over the next 50 years. They also protected more than 266,000 acres of farms, forests and natural areas.
The certainty provided by state approval of our plan will help give farmers, factories and families the certainty they need to invest in the future we all will share. And, it also will help us better take care of and invest in our roads, bridges and transit system so you can spend less time in traffic and more time with friends and family.
In keeping with our proud pioneer tradition, as of today our region is the only metropolitan area in America to attempt—let alone achieve—such a thoughtful and far-reaching plan.
The leaders of our 25 cities and three counties understand that it simply makes sense to work together on the things that cross city and county lines – our economy, our roads, our air and water, and ourselves.
But it wasn’t just our local leaders. Hundreds of farmers, landowners, business owners, advocates and community leaders recognized that we all share an obligation to shape the decisions that affect our community. Their hard work ensured that we all will benefit from this important decision.
While we are closing one chapter today, we must look forward to the next. Like our parents and grandparents before us, it’s our turn to make good investments in our neighborhoods, towns and cities so our children and grandchildren will have good jobs, healthy farms, forests and natural areas, and well-maintained roads, bridges and other public structures and systems.
This is what I and the Metro Council will do as we seek to make our region a great place.