Evaluation

Growth Rates: This strategy directs development back towards the center, encouraging infill and the efficient use of the land. The success of this approach has been mixed, as can be seen in growth rates in the Portland region. Census data shows a 70% growth rate in downtown employment, ranking Portland as 6th among 32 metro regions (Jun, 2004). This demonstrates that center city Portland has retained its status as the business and finance center of the region. Statistics also show that 54% of housing growth has occurred in urbanized areas, ranking Portland a somewhat disappointing 16th out of 32 metro regions. However, this is still a high percentage with over half of the housing growth occurring in high density zones.

Growth Rates (Jun, 2004)

Holding the Line of Growth: Portland METRO has been able to delineate a line, and hold it. Below is an aerial photo of the UGB edge in Washington County. This shows the manner in which the landscape has been shaped; the urban lands are encircled by a working network of agricultural and ecological lands. This centralized growth encourages the efficient use of energy, transportation and water infrastructure, which is a cost effective way of developing a city (Portland METRO, 2006). By promoting development patterns which focus back to the center, Portland has protected its outer resources, preserving connections to other bioregions. This has enabled the high population density of Portland to develop next to a productive rural and natural landscape ( Portland METRO, 2006).

UGB Edge (Google Earth)

Growth Patterns/Growth Diversion: The urban growth boundary has been criticized as a policy which diverts growth. But where is it diverted? To understand this, the region must be examined without the constraints of political boundaries. While Portland 's UGB was planned as a regional strategy to manage growth, it has failed to account for state borders. Significant economic and housing growth has occurred outside the UGB, in Clark County Washington (Jun, 2004). The image below shows Portland regional growth patterns from 1960 to 2000. These growth patterns show the clear line of the UGB in the Oregon counties of Washington, Clackamas, and Multnomah. While the growth in Oregon has remained within the UGB, developing right to the edge as was seen above, Clark County has seen typical suburban sprawl. These patterns show that METRO's policies have been successful in Oregon, but have largely failed to have an impact on what occurs in Washington. This reflects the failure of METRO to account for the political boundaries of the state when developing an urban growth boundary for Portland.

Growth Patterns (Jun, 2004)

METRO Planning Successes : While the complete success of the UGB in Portland is debatable, it has had several undeniable benefits on the Portland landscape. The UGB has created a region with jobs that are close to residential centers. This has been done by promoting mixed use developments and urban infill. With policies in place to promote the efficient use of urban lands, public transit is a viable option contributing to shortened commutes (Portland METRO, 2006). The Portland region is largely serviced by a multi-modal transportation system, with plans for future expansion to areas which are under serviced (Portland METRO, 2006). These policies have protected the outer metropolitan edge from further expansion allowing the farming and forestry industry to remain in the Portland region. Also, these approaches have proven to be a successful method of managing resources at the metropolitan fringe and beyond. Ecological networks on the suburban edge remain largely intact, with connections to other bioregions.

Portland Characteristics: Images from Portland Ground

Lessons Learned for Future Planning:

1. Success and community support are directly linked.
2. Steady progress through incremental planning will avoid the planning process from becoming derailed.
3. Coalition building ensures that planning decisions are suppoted by citizens.
4. Institutionalize the need to abide by good planning ideals in government and private sectors.