The Commissioners will continue the hearing with discussion and decision-making (but no further public testimony) at their regular business meeting at 10 a.m., Thursday, September 10. Both meetings will be in the Board Hearing Room, fourth floor, Public Services Building, 2051 Kaen Rd., Oregon City.
People who wish to speak at the September 8 hearing will be asked to sign up at the beginning of the meeting and will have up to three minutes to comment. People have comments but are not able to attend the hearing are encouraged to submit written testimony no later than 5 p.m., Wednesday, August 26.
The process of identifying urban and rural reserves in the Portland metropolitan area began in 2008 and will continue into early 2010. The process, which was set by the state legislature, includes specific factors that must be used to determine whether an area is suitable as an urban reserve or a rural reserve. The intent of the process is to identify where urban growth should and should not take place in the region over the next 40-50 years.
• Urban reserves are areas outside the current urban growth boundary (UGB) that are suitable for accommodating population and job growth if and when needed over the next 40 to 50 years.
• Rural reserves are areas outside the current UGB to be preserved for agricultural and forestry uses, and natural resources protection for the next 40 to 50 years.
Public input opportunities will continue for the next several months as Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, and Metro, continue to move toward final urban and rural reserve designations.
Commissioners from the counties are scheduled to submit reserves recommendations for their own counties to the Regional Steering Committee (RSC) by September 23. The RSC, made up of officials from cities and counties throughout the region, as well as business, agricultural and environmental representatives, will review the recommendations and send its own recommendations to the Core 4. The Core 4 (one commissioner from each county and Metro) will work towards a final decision by spring 2010.
Throughout the process, there will be additional open houses, public hearings, Planning Commission meetings and other opportunities for residents to share comments and information.
Details about the urban and rural reserves process in Clackamas County are available at www.clackamas.us. For more information about the Board hearing and business meeting, call 503-655-8581 or go to http://www.clackamas.us/bcc/. Information about the regional process is available at http://www.oregonmetro.gov/reserves.
From: Ellen Rogalin, Clackamas County Department of Transportation & Development, 503-742-4274 or ellenrog@co.clackamas.or.us
Date: 08-17-09