ARTICLE
Earlier this year, Metro accepted Tigard’s mid-cycle UGB expansion request for the area known as River Terrace 2, which HBA has been active in supporting at the local level. Poised to support the UGB expansion request and encourage Metro to authorize the expansion, HBA became aware of a new recommendation by Metro COO Marissa Madrigal to execute an UGB land exchange rather than standard mid-cycle expansion. Although the memo sent to council by Madrigal does not include the proposed exchange, land currently in the UGB which is less likely to develop in the next 10-20 years like Damascus are under consideration. HBA has started meetings with Metro to learn more about the process and proposal, with the goal of ultimately supporting whatever mechanism is necessary to get River Terrace 2.0 moving ahead. River Terrace 2, along with the original River Terrace, Cooper Mountain and the Beef Bend Road expansion areas, are a good example of the synergy that can occur when local jurisdictions work together to develop an area with the planning and support of the regional infrastructure to support our needed growth. Ensuring that River Terrace 2 is able to proceed in a timely manner is critical to the success of all housing opportunities in the area.