North Bethany Open House April 6

Monday, April 6, 4:30 – 7 p.m.,
Jacob Wismer Elementary School,
5477 NW Skycrest Parkway

North Bethany is an 800-acre area east of 185th and north of Springville Road that was brought into the Urban Growth Boundary in 2002. Because it’s not inside a city, Washington County is doing the planning for the area, and the Board of Commissioners will eventually approve the plan.

Developers bought up large parcels of the land, but they can’t build until the master plans for the area are approved. Progress stalled because of the difficulties in figuring out how to fund the necessary infrastructure (sewer, roads, schools, parks) needed to serve some 5000 new residents.

The latest Concept Plan for North Bethany includes several changes in road alignment and the distribution of density, including more-dense central areas and less-dense outer areas.

The North Bethany Community Planning process has moved ahead in recent months with refinements to the Concept Plan and a Funding Proposal to suggest how to pay for development. Washington County staff is also preparing the community plan for the public hearings process anticipated to begin in July.

The preferred Concept Plan for North Bethany will be presented to the community at the Open House.

Also available for public review and comment will be the Funding Proposal. The project team (county staff and consultants) have worked with stakeholders (property owners, developers, service providers, neighbors and representatives of other interest groups) over the past year to determine an equitable balance of public and private investment to fund development.

After the open house the Stakeholder Work Group will have opportunity to review community input and suggest final tweaks to the Concept Plan and Funding Proposal. The Public Hearings process will then begin, including Comprehensive Plan and Code amendments. A second open house is scheduled for Thursday, June 4, 4:30 - 7, Washington County Public Services Building, 155 N. First Avenue, Hillsboro. This open house will be a guide to the Public Hearings process including how testimony or comments can be provided.

Additional information is available on the project website: www.bethanyplan.org

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