Metro / Washington County Commission Testimony
March 15, 2011
Hillsboro, Oregon

Three years ago, when we began this odyssey to create urban and rural reserves, we agreed to find “a bold new approach” to address Oregon’s contentious land use planning process---one that would provide “balance” between urban and rural interests and a predictable way to plan orderly urban development.

Washington County’s preliminary exam of the land in the county identified more than 104,000 acres that were suitable for urbanization and suitable for agricultural uses.

After further examination the study area was pared down to 61,000 acres, and later, based on the aspirations of our local communities and special service districts, the study area was further narrowed to about 31,000 acres that were deemed suitable for urbanization and for agricultural purposes.

After extensive regional and local outreach and a great deal of public testimony discussions with Metro Councilors and neighboring counties, the Washington County urban reserves map was finally trimmed down to13,500 acres of urban reserves, some undesignated areas and more rural reserves than any other county in the region

This map initially won the unanimous support of the Washington County Commission, the Washington County planning Commission, and was adopted by the Metro Council on a 5-2 vote, before being referred to LCDC for their consideration and approval.

LCDC told us the 28,000 acres of urban reserves were justified and reasonable for a 50-year land supply for urbanization, and approved the maps from Multnomah and Clackamas County, and here in Washington County---except for two areas north of Forest Grove and Cornelius.

Significantly, LCDC approved the overall regional Urban Reserve acreage, and specifically authorized Washington County to replace the 624 acres north of Cornelius of employment land they had removed.  But LCDC didn’t stop there.  They authorized the county to use rural reserve land to replace the 624 acres they had directed to change from urban to rural reserves.  This was not a directive, but an authorization.

Given the comparatively small amount of employment land in Washington County’s 13,500 acres of urban reserves, it is imperative this employment land be replaced. With more than 87,000 of our neighbors and your constituents in Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas counties currently unemployed, we cannot short-sheet the economic opportunities of our tri-county region.

Last week, WEA directed your attention to a recent report by The Brookings Institute in Washington County, which singled out Portland as a “Metro powerhouse,” concentrating 47 percent of Oregon’s population, 51percent of the employment, 58 percent of Oregon’s economic output, and 71 percent of Oregon’s exports in this metropolitan region. 

Last month, President Barack Obama challenged the U.S. to double our exports by 2014.  The day before the President came to visit Intel’s Ronler Acres and visit with our local students, Governor Kitzhaber declared his support for fast tracking approval of large industrial development projects in our state.

That is why it is so important to maintain the employment capacity in the regional urban reserves.

Metro data has assured our region that if—and only if—the entire 28,000 acres of urban reserves in three counties are developed in the next 50 years, we would be expanding the urban area by only 115 percent, while trying to accommodate a projected 70 percent increase in population with housing and hopefully employment opportunities.

According to Metro, Washington County’s designation of 13,500 acres for the next 50 years or urban growth and will consume only two percent of our farm and forest land, again while accommodating 50 years of growth.

If these objectives can be achieved, it will indeed be an accomplishment that everyone who advocate for the preservation of farm and forest land should celebrate.