Metro's report offers limited growth opportunities

With the population of the Portland metropolitan region expected to grow by another million residents by 2030, regional planners are required to maintain a 20-year supply of developable land, providing housing and job sites for the next generation of Oregonians.  But can this future urban growth be concentrated inside the existing urban growth boundary, or will new locations and fresh opportunities also be needed along the perimeters of our region?

This week Metro’s chief operating officer Michael Jordan introduced a “community investment strategy” he believes will make better use of existing infrastructure and urban services by rebuilding and reclaiming developable property inside the urban growth boundary - and where necessary, allow planned development in the “urban reserves” scattered around the urban boundaries.

If the region needs to expand the urban growth boundary in the next five years, nearly all of this growth is expected to occur on the westside of the metropolitan region.   Jordan pointed to six candidate areas to supply future housing needs in the region, totaling roughly 2,700 acres.  Four of the proposed expansion areas are located on the Westside in Wilsonville, west Sherwood, south Hillsboro, and south Cornelius.  The only other candidate area being considered for residential development is the Maple Lane expansion area east of Oregon City.  

Jordan acknowledges the region’s long-standing need for large tract industrial land and has recommended Metro and regional policy makers consider 310 acres, bordering Meek Road north of Hillsboro and south of Highway 26, as the best area for supplying industrial parcels of 50 acres or more for future employment sites. In the past three years, at least five independent studies of the tri-county region have agreed our region needs between 200-800 acres of developable land for large tract industrial development in the near term, and will need as much as 1,600 acres over the next 20 years.   

By including the proposed 310 new acres, Jordan told Metro Councilors Tuesday, “We are within that range, but we are on the low side.” He added, “This is a conservative expansion, but it gives us the best opportunity for aggregation of properties,” which is controlled by several owners who have indicated their willingness to have their properties developed for industrial use and employment areas.

Jordan will describe his “community investment strategy” and answer questions about his recommendations when he speaks at WEA & CCBA’s Breakfast Forum on Thursday, August 26.  If you would like to attend this Forum, please email Teresa Dunham or phone WEA’s office at 503-968-3100.

Printed copies of Jordan’s recommendations can be purchased for $175 per copy, but are in very limited supply.  The 21 page printed summary of his report and CDs of the complete publication are available through Metro at no charge.  You can also download the full report through Metro's web site.