RPC & Other Business Groups Unite to Support Sherwood Expansion and to Plan for Growth, not Decline
The Metro Council is currently considering the 2024 Urban Growth Management Decision and the only Urban Growth Expansion proposal: the Sherwood West expansion request. The Draft 2024 Urban Growth Report report has several important findings related to the forecast for our region’s economic development, housing and employment future. This report could have serious repercussions for our region’s future discussions on land availability. The next opportunity for public comment and testimony will be on first reading of the proposal at the Metro Council meeting on Nov. 21st at 10:30a.m.
A coalition of business organizations, helpfully pulled together by the Home Building Association of Greater Portland, have united in one voice with the following message:
To promote housing affordability and the vitality of our economy, we encourage Council to embrace a high-growth approach when evaluating our regional employment land supply and housing needs; and we urge you to approve the Sherwood West UGB expansion request, without conditions.
Revitalize Portland provided in-person testimony as well as this letter as written testimony on September 25th. Many thanks to Dr. Gerard Mildner for authoring this letter.
A joint-letter signed by a coalition of business organizations, including RPC was also submitted to Metro Council regarding these issues:
Why is this important?
By the end of 2024, the Metro Council will decide “whether there is enough land in greater Portland’s urban area for 20 years of growth.” Metro Council can consider expanding the greater Portland region’s urban growth boundary if there is a regional need for land to accommodate the next 20 years of jobs and housing growth.
Our Economy & Housing Committee recently hosted two special guests, Jerry Johnson from Johnson Economics and Preston Korst from the Home Building Association of Greater Portland to explain the process and the importance of making our industry voice heard to the Metro Council.
See more about both topics: Metro 2024 Growth Management Decision page.
Metro Council recieved testimony about the urban growth management decision in-person, online or in writing at a public hearing on Sept. 26, 2024. Public testimony will also be heard at the first reading of the ordinance on Nov. 21, 2024.