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187

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Use the information in Portland’s Urban Growth Boundary to answer the questions below.

1. Portland’s urban growth boundary (UGB) currently includes land located in three

counties. Name two cities in the Washington County portion of the urban growth

boundary.

2. Identify the river that flows through the center of Portland’s UGB.

3. Portland’s UGB was first established in 1979, and has been adjusted in the years

following. In 2002, its lines were redrawn to include a large parcel of land south of the

Multnomah−Clackamas county line, which included the cities of Damascus and Happy

Valley. Place an X on the map to indicate where the 2002 addition to the UGB occurred.

4. If the population living within Portland’s UGB grows more rapidly than the UGB around

Portland expands, how would the per capita land consumption need to change to

accommodate the new residents? Explain.

5. Use the information shown in the map and provided in the activity to

explain how UGBs can help people balance their needs for housing and jobs with the

needs of the environment.

Find out more about Portland’s UGB. Using Internet resources, find articles expressing a

variety of viewpoints on the impacts of Portland’s UGB. Working with a small group, choose

two articles to evaluate. Determine whether or not the opinions expressed in the articles are

well supported with factual information. Share your group’s findings with the class.

The 21st Century Skills used in this activity include Information, Communication, and

Technology (ICT) Literacy, Communication and Collaboration, and Media Literacy.

Log on for more information and activities on the Central

Case, Growing Pains in Portland, Oregon.

188

Exploring Portland’s UGB Plan for 2015

Group 1: Read the introduction to the revised UGB Plan for 2015 (Pages 5-7)

1. What is the purpose of Portland’s UGP Plan?

2. What successes and challenges have they faced?

3. What are their plans for growth?

Group 2: Read pages 7-10

1. How has the region been growing?

2. What are the residential development trends?

3. What are the employment trends?

4. What, if any, changes can they expect?

Group 3: Read Pages 12-13

1. What are some unintended consequences for redevelopment?

2. What are the opportunities for workforce housing?

3. What are the consequences for growth without services and facilities?

4. What is the Jobs-housing balance? Is this balance realistic for the big picture? Why/Why not? What is Portland’s response to this issue?

Group 4: Read Pages 14-15

1. Is projecting the future of the area’s population and job needs simple? Why or why not? What questions need to be considered?

2. Why do they need to consider the greater seven-county region? What are their projections for this region?

3. What are their population projections for growth inside the Metro UGB?

Group 5: Read Pages 16-20

1. What process do they use to determine the estimated residential growth capacity?

2. What environmental factors were taken into consideration?

3. What is their estimation for Portland’s residential growth capacity?

4. What questions do developers ask when evaluating redevelopment potential?

5. What is their estimation for Portland’s employment growth capacity?

Group 6: Read Pages 21-23

1. Is there a regional need for additional growth capacity? What are the housing needs?

2. Does the region need more land for housing growth? What is their projection for # of individuals per household by 2035?

3. What impact does this have for millennials on housing?

4. Summarize the considerations that policy makers need to have when making future decisions on housing?

Group 7: Read Pages 24-26

1. Does the region need more land for industrial job growth? Why/Why Not?

2. How has the Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park been a success for Portland’s industry and community?

3. How should the region prioritize investments in large industrial site rediness?

4. Why is the harbor so important? What questions need to be asked when considering expansion around the harbor?

5. Does the region need more land for commercial job growth?

EVERYONE: Read Pages 27-28

1. What is the purpose of this study?

2. Where can we see local leadership in Portland? Why is this important?

3. What is the Metro’s role in this whole process? Why are they important to the success of Portland?

4. What are the Next Steps?

Final Project: EVERYONE

Using the Land Use Report provided for Charleston County, Write a 2-3 page essay that answers the following questions. Your paper should include a strong introduction, 2-3 body paragraphs, and a strong conclusion.

What is Charleston’s Land Use Policy? Do they have a UGB? What are the Land Use Goals and Urban Growth Plans for Charleston County? What are Charleston’s three areas of focus for the 21st century? How is land use different among the major parts of Charleston County? Why is planning for the future this way important? Would you make any changes or additions to this report? Why or why not?[pic]

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the UGB. The Metro Council is required

by the state legislature to have a 20-year

supply of land available for future residential

development within the boundary. It is also

required by law to review the land supply

every five years, and to expand the boundary

if necessary to meet changing needs.

Portland’s UGB includes more than just

the city of Portland. The map below shows

the areas included in the Portland UGB, as

of May 2006. As you can see on the map,

many smaller cities are encompassed in the

UGB. In fact, more than 250,000 acres of

land in three counties are included within the

Portland UGB.

Urban growth boundaries (UGB) are one

tool used by city planners to help minimize

sprawl and encourage sustainable cities.

These boundaries are used to protect

farmlands, forests, and natural ecosystems

outside the boundaries by preventing growth

in these areas. They also encourage strong

cities by allowing transportation needs to be

anticipated, encouraging shorter commute

times, and preventing development from

moving away from the downtown area.

Like all cities in Oregon, Portland has

a UGB, which separates urban land from

rural land. Portland’s regional government,

Metro (formerly known as the Metropolitan

Service District), is responsible for managing

Portland’s Urban Growth Boundary

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