Notes from the Washington County Reserves Coordinating Committee meeting

June 8th, 2009

Notes by Catherine Keith

Tom Brian was not attending; Denny Doyle (Mayor of Beaverton) chaired the meeting in his place.

The errors in the Washington County long-term land needs report distributed at the May meeting were discussed.

County planners underestimated the population growth in Clackamas and Multnomah counties and overestimated growth in Washington County.

For Washington County:

The change in growth estimates changes the estimated 2060 land needs of Washington County.  Similar changes were made to the 2050 population, employment and land use estimates.  Despite the change in estimated long-term land needs, the county still recommends Urban Reserves in the county of about 47,000 acres.  A motion to keep proposed Urban Reserve areas at about 47,000 acres was passed by the WCRCC.

Larry Duyck commented that there was “too much foundation farmland” in the 47,000 acres and that the Wa. Co. Farm Bureau is opposed to keeping the 47,000 acres as urban reserves.

A Regional Project Schedule was provided by Metro.  Mike Dahlstrom pointed out upcoming public input opportunities.

Brent Curtis said that the Planning Directors want to be done with the technical work by the July WCRCC meeting.

Jerry Willey (Mayor of Hillsboro) requested input from the agricultural representatives at the table between WCRCC meetings, to better understand their position.

Dave Vanasche (WC Farm Bureau) recommended bringing Jim Johnson from the Dept. of Agriculture back to a WCRCC meeting.

Someone asked at what point undesignated lands might be urbanized and the response was that they can be urbanized when 50% of the urban reserves have been brought into the UGB.

Andy Duyck (Clean Water Services) mentioned that the committee has given a lot of time to discussing urban needs and not as much to discussing rural needs.  He asked what the agricultural needs of our area might be in 50 years.

Someone suggested it would be good to hear the opinion of property owners outside of the TV irrigation district in addition to the comments from farmers within the irrigation district. 

Dave Vanasche said he represents the Washington County Farm Bureau, that means he is here to represent and protect the agricultural industry.

A decision was made to extend the August meeting by one hour.

Brent Curtis briefly showed a map provided by the Washington County Farm Bureau (Larry Duyck and Dave Vanasche) showing the agricultural aspirations of the Farm Bureau.

Jim Tice (Washington County) is working on breaking down the Farm, Forest and Natural Features lands into tiers.  He is looking “hardest” at the farm land.

Mike Dahlstrom reviewed some of the responses to the surveys during phase three; in the question regarding whether or not changes should be made to the recommended urban reserve areas on the map at that time:

            There were about 700 responses

            30-40% said no changes

            60-70% said yes, make changes

                        80 said exclude 100% of land N. of hwy 26 from urban reserve consideration

                        90 said exclude Helvetia area

                        30 said exclude West Hills

                        40 said use all foundation land as rural reserves

A full report on the survey results should be available June 22^nd in the public comment part of the website.

Public Comment:

Mary Manseau representing CPO7 commented that at their June 1^st meeting, CPO7 voted to recommend that all remaining rural areas within CPO7 as well as adjacent areas in Multnomah County be designated as rural reserves.  The current transportation problems in that area and the lack of a plan to improve transportation needs were primary factors in the CPO recommendation.

John Leeper commented that there must be an optimal size for the farming industry in Washington County in order for it to continue.  We should ask if we want to continue to have an agricultural industry in the county.  If we keep nibbling away at the land the industry will be compromised and will dissapear anyway.

Catherine Keith of CPO8 reminded the group that what John says is exactly what the Dept. of Ag. Report says for the areas to the N. of hwy. 26 and that any urbanization of in the area will threaten the viability of the agriculture industry as a whole.  Transportation is already a problem for farmers in the area.