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2/16/2024 Member News

King City Councilors Recalled over UGB Growth Decisions


Last night (Thursday, February 15), the Washington County Elections Office released the newest numbers in the King City recall election. Unfortunately, it appears that the votes to recall the majority of city council grew wider and confirms the HBA’s disappointment that they will ultimately be removed from office. While it's the Mayor and three individual councilors who are being punished, the entire housing industry may suffer. You can view the results here.

This recall had its roots in anti-growth forces who are attempting to circumvent and torpedo years of thoughtful planning that would have supported new home construction in an area primed for development. This effort officially started last fall after the City Council voted to approve the Kingston Terrace Master Plan and King City Transportation System Plan, both of which advanced the 2018 decision that brought Kingston Terrace into the Urban Growth Boundary.

Kingston Terrace, 528 acres of mostly rural properties and non-resource lands, is located between the western boundary of the city, the Tualatin River, and Beef Bend and Roy Rogers roads. King City added the area to its urban growth boundary (UGB) in late 2018 after getting approval from the Metro Council. Since that time, city officials and planning consultants have worked to come up with a plan to deal with the area’s natural topography while planning for transportation routes, a town center, and over 3,500 new homes of different types. This is in addition to many new park and recreation opportunities within about 318 acres.

What happens next is still undetermined. Whether any of the recalled councilors will re-run for office, and how the replacement and nomination process will play out hasn’t been disclosed. However it does, HBA will lend its voice and resources to ensuring that the progress envisioned in Kingston Terrace will continue and that new home construction remains a priority of the city. Our region is in a critical housing shortage and, unfortunately, this misguided effort will only make it worse.

Yesterday, Mayor Jaimie Fender released the following statement:

“With new ballots received today, it appears the election has been decided by a handful of votes, and all four King City Councilors have been removed from office. While we know there are more ballots to be counted before the election is certified and each of those votes matter, we also understand the probability of the outcome being similar to what it is today.

Recalls should be rare and limited to legal or ethical violations, none of which happened here. We are grateful to all those who stood with us and stood up against the flood of intimidation tactics, misinformation, and intentional deceit from the proponents of this recall.

We believe this was the wrong use of the recall process, but we accept the will of King City voters. Now, it is time to reunite our community and work together for the future of King City.”

- Mayor Jaimie Fender, King City