Posted
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Portion of Washington-Multnomah County Boundary Changes with the New Year
On New Year's Day 2014, the Multnomah-Washington county boundary will change, bringing "Area 93"—160 acres of land along the western slopes of the Tualatin Mountains—under Washington County jurisdiction. This change marks the first adjustment of this scale to the counties' shared boundary in 160 years.
The boundary change will conclude a notable process of multi-jurisdictional cooperation involving state, regional and county officials working together with local property owners and neighboring communities. The process began in 2002 when regional and local governments made the collective commitment to add more than 20,000 acres to the urban growth boundary (UGB), including "Area 93," as it was then identified.
UGB expansion is intended to provide developable land sufficient to support 20 years of anticipated population and job growth as required by Oregon law. By defining specific areas where urban development can occur, farm and forest land has been preserved elsewhere in the region.
Area 93 is about 2.5 miles north of the U.S. Highway 26-Oregon 217 interchange. Area 93 is isolated from other urbanized areas in Multnomah County by a rural reserve area approximately one-half mile in width, yet it is contiguous to urbanized Washington County on two sides.
Officials came to the idea of moving the county boundary after significant planning work by Multnomah County. Despite the effort, public services essential for implementing the plan could not be provided in a timely and cost-effective manner by the City of Portland or Multnomah County. These services—such as water, sewer, parks, roads and police protection—are available through annexation to special districts already serving the urban unincorporated residents of Washington County. Property taxes for Area 93 taxpayers will increase as these additional services are provided.
The Multnomah-Washington county boundary was first established in 1854 when the Oregon territorial government created Multnomah County out of what was then Washington and Clackamas counties. Although boundary changes have been made to both counties since then, the Multnomah-Washington boundary has not been adjusted to this scale since that time.
For more information, visit Washington County's Area 93 page at: www.co.washington.or.us/area93
Contacts:
Philip Bransford, Communications Officer, Washington County Administrative Office, 503-846-8685
[email protected]
Hank Stern, Communications Officer, Multnomah County Public Affairs Office, 503-757-0622
[email protected]