Metro conditionally approves Sherwood West UGB expansion; Washington County will wait on county ordinance while appeals proceed

PORTLAND REGION — Metro adopted a conditional urban growth boundary expansion for the Sherwood West urban reserve on Dec. 5, 2024; Washington County staff told the county Planning Commission on Jan. 15 that the county will delay filing the local ordinance that transfers land to urban zoning until appeals and Department of Land Conservation and Development review are exhausted.

Metro approved the Sherwood West addition, a 1,291‑acre urban reserve area west of Sherwood, to help meet the region’s 20‑year housing and employment needs. Metro’s decision included conditions such as strategies and incentives for affordable housing, exploring regulated affordable housing in some areas, protecting habitat and open space, identifying two 250+‑acre industrial sites, and requiring Sherwood to complete comprehensive planning that achieves an average residential density of at least 9.2 units per acre within four years.

Why it matters: Metro’s conditional expansion alters long‑term land supply in the Portland region and triggers a series of local planning steps and potential appeals before urban development can occur. County staff said the local ordinance that would apply Washington County’s urban zoning (FD‑20) to Sherwood West will not be filed until appeals and any director or commission actions are final, delaying annexation and…