Many Oregon towns attempt to increase their urban growth boundaries to attract industrial development, only to struggle in court proceedings for many years.
Many Oregon towns have attempted to expand their urban growth boundaries to attract industrial development, only to struggle in court proceedings for many years.
Groups such as 1000 Friends of Oregon and the Oregon Farm Bureau strongly oppose development on the farmland that surrounds many Willamette Valley towns.
The city of Donald, population 1,030, thought it might be wise to expand the town’s urban growth boundary and attract some industry. Get some jobs in here to counter what’s been a 65 percent population increase since 2000, the city council agreed.
A widow with land adjoining the city limits was offering her farm as a logical expansion site. A rail line ran through it and city sewer and water pipes were right at the property line, ready to go.
It took five and a half years, with multiple studies, hearings and appeals, for the Marion County town to add 34 acres.
Read more at OregonLive.com.
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