While we slept, a new map was drawn, discussed and decided. On December 14th, County leaders decided to approve new urban/rural reserves that provide no urban/undesignated lands within our community.
Although this decision protects our community from more urban sprawl, this action does not help us to create a "healthy, complete community" which could provide you a place to work within a short distance of where you live, and more money for needed infrastructure and schools.
Our future has been negotiated by vocal groups that don't live here, Hillsboro city aspirations and current political opinions vs. best practices for planning healthy, strong communities and a locally engaged planning effort. Why? Because our community doesn't have the capacity to determine, plan or negotiate for how we want to grow in the future.
Now that this decision was made, our community will continue to:
* have limited influence in local and regional decisions
* not have the capacity to plan or provide for local employment options that let us walk, bike or commute just minutes to work
* struggle to find funding for current infrastructure issues like better roads, sidewalks, and more
* struggle to provide land and funding to take the pressure off our overcrowded high schools
* not have transit designed to serve our needs and alleviate congestion
Remember, a feasibility study is the first step to gaining more local leadership and more direct influence over how and where your community grows. Support A City By Choice, www.acitybychoice.org and gain an edge on future decisions about your livability.
More info:
Read more about what has been recommended:
* http://www.co.washington.or.us/LUT/PlanningProjects/reserves/whats-new.cfm
* http://cedarmill.org/news/1210/WaCo1210/index.html
* http://www.co.washington.or.us/reserves/
* http://news.oregonmetro.gov/1/post.cfm/washington-county-suggests-new-urban-reserves-plan
Although this decision protects our community from more urban sprawl, this action does not help us to create a "healthy, complete community" which could provide you a place to work within a short distance of where you live, and more money for needed infrastructure and schools.
Our future has been negotiated by vocal groups that don't live here, Hillsboro city aspirations and current political opinions vs. best practices for planning healthy, strong communities and a locally engaged planning effort. Why? Because our community doesn't have the capacity to determine, plan or negotiate for how we want to grow in the future.
Now that this decision was made, our community will continue to:
* have limited influence in local and regional decisions
* not have the capacity to plan or provide for local employment options that let us walk, bike or commute just minutes to work
* struggle to find funding for current infrastructure issues like better roads, sidewalks, and more
* struggle to provide land and funding to take the pressure off our overcrowded high schools
* not have transit designed to serve our needs and alleviate congestion
Remember, a feasibility study is the first step to gaining more local leadership and more direct influence over how and where your community grows. Support A City By Choice, www.acitybychoice.org and gain an edge on future decisions about your livability.
More info:
Read more about what has been recommended:
* http://www.co.washington.or.us/LUT/PlanningProjects/reserves/whats-new.cfm
* http://cedarmill.org/news/1210/WaCo1210/index.html
* http://www.co.washington.or.us/reserves/
* http://news.oregonmetro.gov/1/post.cfm/washington-county-suggests-new-urban-reserves-plan
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