Finding a Middle Ground Between Rural and Urban

A new city being planned on 77 acres of agricultural land in Oregon has prompted some to question the hard difference between urban and rural as compartmentalized by the Portland area's urban growth boundary.

1 minute read

August 11, 2009, 5:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

Landowner Larry Thompson is seeking to revise the way land use regulators divide up land along the urban growth boundary in the Portland region by mixing agricultural land and community development.

"If it's done nothing else, Oregon has drawn a bright line between urban and rural. Development occurs within tight growth boundaries; farming and forestry happen out in the country. Period.

Thompson says it's time to blur those lines.

'Instead of saying, 'Here's the boundary for growth,' maybe we should start with the farm first and create the community around farms,' he says. 'That's my intent.'"

FULL STORY: Blurring the urban-rural line in Damascus

Saturday, August 8, 2009 in The Oregonian

Community / Economic Development Land Use Urban Development Oregon Portland Rural Areas Urban Growth Boundary Agricultural Land Urban Growth Boundaries View More

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