County seeks public input on Urban and Rural Reserve Draft Recommendations

Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties and Metro have been leading a regional process to identify land for future urban development and to protect farms, forests and natural areas for the next half-century. Urban reserves will identify areas outside the existing Urban Growth Boundary where future growth could be accommodated over the next 40-50 years. Rural reserves will be areas protected from any urbanization for the same time frame.

Several rounds of refinement of the Washington County map have already taken place, through public workshops and meetings among civic leaders. At the end of 2009, the counties and Metro will enter into agreements that will determine the location and scale of urban development and rural reserves.

A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, August 20, 4-8 pm, at the Hillsboro Civic Center, 150 East Main Street, Hillsboro. Testimony will begin at 5 pm.

The hearing offers you an opportunity to provide official testimony on proposed urban and rural reserve areas within Washington County. You will also have the opportunity to provide written testimony. All input will be included in the public record for the urban and rural reserves project.

The public hearing also will include an informational open house where you can learn more about the project background and how the current reserves recommendations were identified.

More event and parking information and comment opportunities are available on the website at www.co.washington.or.us/reserves.

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