Tackling the question of “how we grow”
To read some recent headlines, you’d think people are taking to the streets about the contentious (and very geeky) process of designating urban and rural reserves. But as usual, the real story is a little less dramatic and a lot more constructive — though to be sure, not without the flare up of tempers and ideologies we get any time we tackle the thorny question of how we should grow.
People feel passionately about this issue — in fact, it’s a lot of why I became a Metro Councilor — and that’s a good thing. It’s a question we spend a lot of time discussing around the family table that is Metro. The great irony is that if we were Phoenix, or Dallas or Atlanta hundreds of acres of farmland would have been paved over in less time than we take for our discussion.
After contentious growth decisions in 2002 and 2004, Metro led a regional delegation to Salem seeking a more reasoned and rational approach, resulting in the current process to designate areas for the next 40-50 years of growth, and areas to be protected for farming and forestry for the same amount of time. This is known as the “designation of Urban and Rural Reserves.”
Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington Counties and Metro have been working for 2 years to figure out where urbanization might make the most sense (you can download the map here (PDF)) and where farming and forestry as well as special natural features should be protected. Decision time is upon us.
I approach this important decision with three principles first and foremost:
- Be cautious. Urbanization is a one-way street. Even creating urban reserves will make it more difficult for farmers to make long-term investments.
- Protect the best. Willamette Valley farmland is some of the best in the world and supports a healthy industry that provides us with fresh food year round.
- Provide certainty for everyone. Lands near the urban growth boundary face incredible pressure to develop and all should be clearly designated either for future urban growth or long-term protection.
Along with Councilors Rod Park and Robert Liberty, I support designation of a modest amount of urban reserves, recognizing that there are about 15,000 acres of vacant land within the existing Urban Growth Boundary. There also are very good reasons — economic, environmental and social — to re-invest in our existing communities rather than start anew on farmland.
A detailed map as well as the public hearing and open house schedule is available on the Metro website. You can also sign up for the Metro newsfeed to receive updates. Public hearings and open houses are scheduled during the month of January. Materials including maps, descriptions of landscapes and the reserves proposals and an online survey will be posted during the public hearing period from January 11-22 so check our website then to learn more and to send in your comments.
Metro and the three counties will continue to discuss possible designations on the map in an effort to reach agreement by the last week of February 2010.
Happy New Year!
– Rex