Special Series
This Land: Measure 37's Impact on Oregon
In a Series
Cascadia Scorecard: Mapping Measure 37
In our newest edition of the Cascadia Scorecard (released yesterday), we examine one of the most important trends in the region: sprawl. It's an area where there's been a surprising reversal of fortune. Oregon, long a regional and national leader in smart growth, is losing its lead.
According to a new Sightline analysis, in the Portland metro region alone more than 2,000 residential applications for Measure 37 waivers were approved. Together, these claims could add nearly 14,000 housing units and, based on prevailing rates of occupancy, up to 36,000 new residents outside of growth boundaries.
[One red dot represents 10 potential new people outside of growth boundaries, based on claims from 2004 to 2006.]
Such poorly planned sprawl has not been typical of Oregon. The state has a well-deserved reputation for successful growth management; and in every previous edition of Cascadia Scorecard -- not to mention numerous other Sightline studies -- we've highlighted Oregon's success at curbing sprawl and preserving farms and forests.
In fact, in the very first edition of the Scorecard, in 2004, we specifically contrasted ex-urban residential sprawl in Clark County, Washington (home to Vancouver, WA) to the Oregon counties of metro Portland. The difference was profound.
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