Oregon Public Broadcasting

Metro should not expand the urban growth boundary over the next 20 years, according to a new report from agency staff. Kristian Foden-Vencil has more.

The plan has two main recommendations: first to look after the roads and communities the region already has -- rather than build a new; and second, accommodate growth by building on brown fields -- instead of expanding the urban growth boundary.

Metro chief, Michael Jordan, says 20,000 acres have been added over 20 years. But little has been built -- because developers and local governments can’t decide who’s going to pay for new roads, sewers and parks.

Michael Jordan: “That tells me, we have to think about some new tools. We have to be smarter about how we are going to, when we do decide to move the urban growth boundary, how we’re going to pay for that.”

A series of public meetings has been arranged to discuss the new plans. Metro hopes to adopt a new 20-year vision by next year.