URBAN AND RURAL RESERVES
Multnomah County votes to protect the West Hills from urban development
On February 25, 2010, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted to designate all of the West Hills as Rural Reserves. The designation for two areas was decided on a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Kafoury, Shiprack, and McKeel voting to add areas 9A and 9B to the proposed Rural Reserves in the West Hills.
Commissioner Cogen and Chair Wheeler voted to leave these two areas undesignated (neither Urban or Rural Reserves).
The Board then voted unanimously to adopt the County’s amended Reserves map, which shows all of the West Hills as Rural Reserves (except a small rural area within the City of Portland which cannot be designated Rural Reserve).
The Board’s decision will protect farm and forestry land, important headwater streams and wildlife habitat, and views of the West Hills/Tualatin Mountains that are key to the region’s sense of place.
The West Hills are home to large groups of elk, threatened bird species, healthy headwater streams, and farmers like Greg Malinowski who grow local food close to Portland. These rural areas and natural resources help keep Forest Park healthy.
Area 9A is a small area (about 100 acres) along NW Thompson and NW Laidlaw Roads that could have connected a small UGB expansion area (“Area 93″) from 2002 to the City of Portland so the City could provide governance and urban services.
Area 9B is 464 acres along NW Springville Road, adjacent to Bethany. It includes Malinowski Farms, elk habitat, Oregon White Oaks, and a significant headwater stream.
Rural Reserves will protect land from urban development for 50 years. The county’s Reserves Citizen Advisory Committee recommended protecting all of the west hills with Rural Reserves.
Multnomah County Board of Commissioners Reserves Decision
- Sauvie Island: all
- West Hills: all (except a small rural area within the City of Portland which cannot be designated Rural Reserve)
- Multnomah Channel: all
Click here for the county board’s adopted Reserves map.
Next steps: The Multnomah County Planning Commission is considering amendments to the County Framework Plan that will implement Urban and Rural Reserves in Multnomah County. They will are expected to hold a hearing to consider these changes on Monday, April 5, 2010. The County Board of Commissioners is expected to hold a hearing to consider adopting these amendments to the County Framework Plan on Thursday, May 6, 2010. These meetings will be held in the Multnomah Building Board Hearing Room 100, at 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland.
In October, LDCD will review the region’s full Urban and Rural Reserves decision.
For additional background information, scroll down or go directly to one of the following sections (select link below).
Multnomah County Reserves Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) Recommendations
Urban and Rural Reserves
Urban and Rural Reserves
Multnomah County Reserves Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) Recommendations
The Multnomah County Reserves CAC recommended Rural Reserves for these rural areas:
- Sauvie Island
- West Hills/Tualatin Mountains
- Sandy River Gorge
- Farmland west of the Sandy River
- Farmland north of the Sandy River, up to 3 miles from the Urban Growth Boundary
A more detailed report and maps are available here
Urban and Rural Reserves
What are urban and rural reserves?
Urban reserves will be designated by Metro on suitable land outside the urban growth boundary. They must accommodate 40 to 50 years of growth. Urban Reserves are intended to help us create Great Communities with walkable neighborhoods served by public transit, and designed for efficient and cost-effective infrastructure and urban services. Preservation and enhancement of natural ecological systems and the natural landscape, and avoiding harm to nearby farms and natural features are also to be considered.
Rural reserves will be designated by each county on land outside the urban growth boundary. They will include high value working farms and forests, and important natural features such as:
- fish and wildlife habitat
- streams and riparian areas
- floodplains and landslide hazard areas
- areas that provide “sense of place” for the region.
Rural Reserves will be protected from urbanization for the next 40 to 50 years.
Reserves designations will not change current zoning or restrict landowners’ currently allowed use of their lands. Reserves will provide greater clarity regarding the long term expected use of the land and allow both public and private landowners to make long term investments with greater assurance.
Urban and rural reserves will be designated through agreements between Metro and the counties.
County web page for Urban and Rural Reserves
Metro web page explaining Urban and Rural Reserves
Metro web page explaining the Urban and Rural Reserves process
Important Natural Features in the West Hills
Metro’s Natural Landscape Features Inventory Report identifies and maps natural features in the region (click here to download PDF).
The report highlights two important natural landscape features in the West Hills. These features cover virtually all of the rural portions of the West Hills.
Forest Park Connections
Forest Park lies within the city of Portland and unincorporated Multnomah County.
It is considered by many to be the “crown jewel” of the region’s open spaces network. At more than 5,000 acres of mostly second-growth forest, Forest Park contains an abundance of wildlife and its massive tree canopy and substantial undergrowth serves as a natural air purifier, water collector, and erosion controller.
The Forest Park connection area provides protection to key watersheds like Balch, Miller, Ennis and Agency Creeks and secures the integrity of the “big game” corridor that links the park with habitat in the northern Coast Range. Connecting Forest Park to Rock Creek and the proposed Westside Trail will keep important wildlife corridors intact and provide trail connections between the region’s largest urban park and Washington County.
Rock Creek Headwaters
Rock Creek flows from the Tualatin Mountains in Forest Park to the Tualatin River. Watershed managers have identified protection of the upper watershed as a high priority for meeting water quality protection goals in the lower watershed. Opportunities to improve and protect habitat also exist through the protection of key tributaries and their associated wetlands. Because the creek and its tributaries pass through rapidly urbanizing neighborhoods within the cities of Hillsboro and Beaverton, protecting water quality is a priority. These headwaters also provide wildlife habitat and trail connectivity from the Tualatin Valley to the Tualatin Mountains that includes Forest Park.
FPNA Documents:
Letter on reserves to Forest Park Conservacy
Letter to Citizens Advisory Committee regarding West Forest Park
Forest Park Neighborhood Map with Habitat
Forest Park Neighborhood Map with Forest Park mark-up
