Orient identified as possible area for urban expansion

Discussion begins on urban-rural choices for next half century

By Shannon Wells

The Gresham Outlook, Apr 3, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (2 Reader comments)

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A new round of scuffling over the future shape of the Portland metro area involves swaths of land in the Orient area that public officials, developers and others will have their eyes on as parcels to urbanize – or protect from development – over the next half-century.

Advisory committees for Multnomah and neighboring counties are finishing lists of potential “urban reserves” and “rural reserves,” as required by a 2007 state law. Urban reserves would form a pool of developable land Metro regional government draws upon through the next 40 to 50 years as it expands Portland’s urban growth boundary. Rural reserves would be off-limits to urbanization for the same period.

Metro’s Reserves Steering Committee will winnow the two lists at a meeting Wednesday, April 8, and release them for public scrutiny. An open house will be held to discuss the outcome and future needs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 20, at Sam Barlow High School, 5105 S.W. 302nd Ave.

Along with sensitive areas including the hills west of Forest Park, prime Tualatin Valley farmland and Sauvie Island, the process could shape the future of 6,040 acres west of the Sandy River near Orient.

A tri-county regional government agency, Metro is obliged to provide land for 20 years of population growth inside the urban growth boundary – which protects rural lands and focuses development in built-up areas.

Rod Park, who represents East County on Metro Council, said a plethora of factors need to be considered before designating Orient-area land as “urban” or “rural” reserves.” As a public servant and area resident with agricultural interests, he’s of two minds as he approaches the designation process.

“As a farmer, it would be great to leave those areas in farming,” he said. “As a Metro councilor, does it make sense to leave three schools that serve a primarily urban population outside the boundary for 50 years?”

The land in question encompasses schools including Deep Creek Elementary, East Orient Elementary and West Orient Middle School. Nearby Barlow High School, Park notes, is virtually inaccessible to pedestrians and bicyclists.

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