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Officials review urban growth expansion plan



A tractor moves south along Southwest Fourth Street, outside of Ontario. Land to the east is in the city or the current urban growth boundary. Land to the west, is being proposed for an urban reserve area, which could eventually be include in Ontario’s urban growth boundary.
ONTARIO - City and county leaders were told Wednesday the process to expand Ontario’s urban growth boundary will take another year and to expect a fight over the proposed inclusion of prime farmland within the new boundaries.

The news arrived during a workshop attended by members of the Ontario City Council, Malheur County Court and the city and county planning commissions at Ontario City Hall.

The workshop was designed to discuss the Ontario Urbanization Study and the Malheur County Coordinated Population Forecast, two documents recently prepared by a committee of community leaders and residents to move the urban growth expansion plan forward.

Both documents present data which will be used to support expansion of the urban growth boundary, and before that, the designation of the urban reserve area.

The urban reserve area plan is set to be completed later this spring and involves designating a 50-year land supply. It is to the reserve areas the city will go to first when choosing land to include in the urban growth boundary.

Ontario City Planner Grant Young said during Wednesday’s workshop there is still some information which the city needs to update before proposing to expand its urban growth boundary. The urban growth boundaries involve having a 20-year land supply.

One key issue is having land for residential development.

“We can’t show a need,” Young said.

The draft Ontario Urbanization Study includes figures which show the city will have a surplus of buildable land for housing for the next 20 years.

“We don’t have lots,” Young said. “We’re weak about utilities. We’re weak on transportation.”

Young added the city transportation plan needs to be updated. Those issues will mean the urban growth boundary expansion plan will occur next year. The lines of the proposed urbanization boundary may change before it is presented for public review and official adoption, but the direction is mainly to the south.

Presently, the proposed urban reserve area includes 2,300 acres of classes 1 and 2 farmland, Young said.

“That figure may change,” he said. “We don’t have any other place to go.”

Bob Parker, a principal partner in ECONorthwest, the firm that prepared the population forecast and urbanization study, told officials that if the final urban reserve area plan faces a legal challenge, it should hold up.

“We think it will stand up. There is no other option,” he said.

Young said, however, he expects an appeal of the proposed urban reserve areas which includes a large segment of farmland.

“I will be surprised if there is not an appeal by 1000 Friends (of Oregon), the (state) farm bureau, (state) department of ag, or maybe all three,” he said.

The public will be able to comment the Ontario Urbanization Study and the population forecast May 22, before a joint meeting of the city and county planning commissions, and May 30, before a joint meeting of the City Council and the County Court. These are set to be held in the Ontario City Council Chambers, but will be moved if necessary.

In June, there will be hearings on the proposed urban reserve areas and related zoning issues.




Comment Blog - Note: All Comments Subject To Approval

No Dhimmi wrote on Aug 14, 2009 9:38 PM:

" Islam is a woman-hating, human-enslaving ideology that should NOT be taught in our public schools. It's obvious the Saudis and the rest of the Muslim fanatics who are trying to take over the world have bought off the State of Oregon. Expect lawsuits.

And this isn't "racist," because Islam is not a race, anymore than Communism or Nazism are races, both of which killed far fewer people than Islam.

Disgusting. "

anonymous wrote on Aug 10, 2009 2:19 AM:

" The girl was Latasha Rodriguez "

Cody W. Ables wrote on May 16, 2008 11:04 PM:

" May 16, 2008

Here is something that we should all read. This is a letter from an angry woman in New Jersey regarding the War in Iraq and all of the war’s negative publicity. Pay attention.

'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?

Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania?

Did nearly three-thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was 'desecrated' when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia .

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.

Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!

If you don't agree, then by all means quit reading. Should you choose to do so, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:

'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem' -- Ronald Reagan

I have another quote that I would like to add

'If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.' Also by.. Ronald Reagan

One last thought for the day:

In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said: 'A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in.. And how many want out.'

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
Important for us all!!!!
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM. AMEN!’


I hope you take this woman’s viewpoint into consideration. It closely parallels my own. As I begin my journey in becoming a soldier of the greatest country in the world, hearing this woman’s words sets my heart at ease. It is warming to know that there are people in this great country who still care about those men and women who have no choice.


Cody W. Ables
U.S. Air Force Academy 2012
"


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