On Friday, Aug. 19, the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission approved the urban and rural reserves map for Washington County, which was approved by the Metro Council and the Washington County Board of Commissioners last spring.
This decision, combined with LCDC’s decision last year to approve the urban and rural reserves for Multnomah and Clackamas counties, completes four years of collaborative effort to provide significant protections for farmland and natural areas while supplying enough land for good jobs and vibrant neighborhoods for the future. No other metropolitan area in the United States has ever attempted — let alone achieved — such a thoughtful and far-reaching plan.
Credit for this success goes to many people in our region who were engaged in this effort: citizens, farmers, land owners, business leaders, advocates, local elected officials and community leaders. This package was informed by the ideas and perspectives of hundreds of people who participated in crafting this proposal for our region’s future.
Now that the urban and rural reserves have been acknowledged, our work continues on another front: how can we ensure the right investments are made in our communities to grow jobs and sustain great urban places across our region? How can we make the most of the investments and resources we already have in our region to protect the quality of life we enjoy? These are the questions the Metro Council will be focused on as we seek to make our region a great place to live, work and raise a family.