Conservationists say plan fails to protect key parcels

By MITCH LIES
Capital Press

A tri-county plan that protects farmland for up to 50 years and identifies where growth will occur is likely headed to the Land Conservation and Development Commission.

The Portland Metro Council agreed to the plan last week. Washington County commissioners signed off on it June 15, and Clackamas and Multnomah county commissioners were expected to approve it June 17.

The plan puts 268,000 acres off-limits to development for the next 50 years, but falls short of protecting key parcels, according to farmers and conservationists. Particularly in Washington County, where 151,300 acres were identified as rural reserve, farmers contend key farm parcels were either included in urban reserves or left undesignated.

Washington County earmarked 13,800 acres as urban reserve.

In addition to exposing key farm parcels to development, farmers contend Washington County inflated rural reserve acres by including acreage not threatened by development.

"From our point of view, (rural reserves) should be lands under threat of development," said Jeff Stone, government relations director for the Oregon Association of Nurseries. "That's why they need protection."

Approximately 29,000 acres were set aside as urban reserves in the tri-county area.

LCDC is expected to take up the issue at its October meeting. Among possible scenarios, the commission could approve the plan as is or remand it back to Metro and the counties for changes.