Oregon Public Broadcasting

The regional committee responsible for designating where -- and how -- Portland will grow heard recommendations from a number of county leaders Wednesday. Rob Manning reports.

Washington and Clackamas counties presented recommendations for urban growth, and for areas that should be protected from development in the next 40 to 50 years. 

Washington County has already drawn criticism for its proposal.

Clackamas County is proposing even smaller reserves than those Washington County put on the table. Still Clackamas County officials expect criticism.

For example, Metro is already leaning on Clackamas County to develop even more acreage within the Stafford Triangle -- between Tualatin and West Linn.

Doug McLain is the planning director for Clackamas.

Doug McLain: “I mean Stafford has been an area of contention for 25 years – so it hasn’t gone away as an area of contention. I’m sure there’ll be more work to determine how much area should be urban.”

The counties and Metro are supposed to come to an agreement on the 50-year plan this winter.