Letters

CPO 8 letter and resolution

6185 NW Evergreen Road
Hillsboro, OR 97124
October 20, 2009

Tom Brian, Chair
Washington County Commissioners
155 N. First Avenue, Suite 300
Hillsboro, OR 97124

Re: Urban/Rural Reserves – CPO 8 Motion

Respected Commissioners:

CPO 8 has been following the Urban/Rural Reserves process closely since its inception. Steering Committee members have attended most of the local coordinating committee meetings; Mike Dahlstrom has attended two of our general CPO meetings and we've had regular updates during almost every general meeting. Consequently we feel fairly well informed about the process, the players and the outcome to date. We feel the outcome fails the tests of both effective citizen involvement and the factors identified in OAR 660, Division 27, Urban and Rural Reserves in the Portland Metropolitan Area.

A motion and resolution was brought forward at the October 13th meeting of CPO 8 requesting specific action of the Washington County Board of Commissioners regarding work going forward on the designation of Rural Reserves. The essence of the resolution asks for revision of the Citizen Involvement component of the Reserves Process so as to develop and use much more local stakeholder input in the process from this point forward. In addition, the resolution asks for reevaluation and revision of the Urban/Rural reserves designations that have been so far established. The intent of these actions would be to enable much closer conformity to the factors contained in the referenced OAR.

To close with an analogy: if the Reserves Process is the vessel that will carry us through the next fifty years, it is expected that it will return from its first sea trials with major modifications required. I am sure that further evaluation of the data with the information now available will lead to a much higher quality product.

We ask that you take action to implement the five points in the attached resolution which passed: 26 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstention, at the October 13, 2009 CPO 8 meeting.

Regards,

Henry Oberhelman
CPO 8 Chair

Attached: Resolution : For Washington County Board of Commissioners

Resolution : For Washington County Board of Commissioners
from CPO 8
Adopted October 13, 2009

Resolution: CPO 8 calls upon the Washington County Board of Commissioners to honor its duty under OAR 660-027-0060 to protect productive Resource Lands within its jurisdiction from encroaching urbanization, and to involve citizens effectively in the determination of Rural Reserves necessary to fulfill that purpose. Specifically, we urge the Board to:

Seek and use CCI consultation and advice in designing an expanded Washington County Reserves Coordinating Committee (WCRCC) and an effective citizen involvement process, for better information and greater integrity in the designation of Rural Reserves within in the 2010 Comprehensive Plan Amendment process.
Provide for voting representation on the expanded WCRCC to include each rural area CPO; the farming, forestry, recreational/cultural tourism and other rural-related economic interests missing on the original committee, as well as advocates for wildlife and other elements of long-term community sustainability.
Direct staff to develop a work plan for the 2010 Comprehensive Plan Amendment cycle which will elicit and support active input from affected citizens as the expanded WCRCC re-evaluates lands that could qualify for protection as Rural Reserves–including those previously recommended for Urban Reserve designation.
Direct staff to work with the CCI and expanded WCRCC to revise assumptions, principles and ratings used to re-evaluate lands that could qualify for either Urban or Rural Reserve designations, rather than continuing to prioritize urban over rural land needs.
Remind the WCRCC, Planning Commission, Planning Staff and each other to take seriously and respectfully their legal right and duty to protect valuable Resource Lands from urban encroachment per OAR 660-027-0060.