Measure 37 and the Urban Growth Boundary Plans

Posted on: June 14, 2007

Photo by Sarah Harmon of Hood Photography

The Oregon Legislature recently passed a measure that would give Metro and regional governments the ability to target land that is outside the UGB for future development over the next 40 to 50 years. This measure also gives regional authorities the ability to designate “rural reserves” which would be protected from development. It seems this measure may be a vehicle to consider options for expanding the UGB to accommodate rising population rates because Metro (the tri-county regional government) has been given another two years to complete its review of the existing urban growth boundary. According to the Portland Business Journal article, Metro expects the Portland area to grow by 1 million by 2030.

Measure 37 was passed by the voters in 2004 to reimburse land owners that were affected by new land-use regulations; it was ruled constitutional (PBJ, Feb. 2006), and it is likely to be around for a while. I wonder if the recent measure has anything to do with accommodating Measure 37 issues. We’ll wait and see. Please feel free to post your take on the new measure.