Issues

Get the back story on current issues. Learn how Oregon’s planning system protects the places we love.

Urban & Rural Reserves

Saving Farmland & Building Livable Communities: The Benefits of Land Use Planning

Oregon is blessed with some of the world’s best farmland. Agriculture in Oregon provides tens of thousands of jobs and healthy, locally grown food for farmers markets, restaurants and grocery stores. Oregon agricultural products are also exported around the world, making agriculture a critical element of the state’s economy.

Managing urban growth makes our cities and towns more livable, reduces air and water pollution, increases our transportation options and helps prevent sprawl from gobbling up valuable farms, forests and natural areas.  It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions by keeping our “carbon footprint” smaller.

Rural & Urban Reserves: Better Planning for a Better Future

The population of the Portland metropolitan region is expected to grow by one million people by the year 2030. Our region faces a tremendous challenge – how to provide future housing, jobs, schools, parks and other amenities and still maintain our cherished quality of life.

The 2007 Legislature gave the Portland region a valuable new tool to shape our future: the ability to designate urban and rural reserves.  Metro and the counties of Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington will jointly designate which land will be protected and which land will be developed over the next 40-50 years.

Urban and rural reserves could improve the existing process of urban growth boundary expansion by providing greater predictability for farmers, landowners and communities as to where future growth will occur - but only if we all participate in the decision-making.

We have a unique and important opportunity to shape the future of our region for generations. If done correctly, the decisions on urban and rural reserves will:

• Protect our most valuable farm land from future development;
• Ensure that future growth will create vibrant communities and greater opportunities to walk, bike, and take transit for our transportation needs;
• Help the region reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming pollution.

Take Action Today for a Responsible Future

If you live in the Portland metro area, please click on your local elected official's e-mail address to send them a message of support for greater farmland protection:

Important Links

Metro's Reserves web site

Clackamas County's reserves web site

Multnomah County's reserves web site

Washington County's reserves web site

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