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County previews Cornelius urban planning area agreement update; ordinance expected this fall
Summary
Planning staff outlined Urban Planning Area Agreements (UPAAs), their statutory basis and the county’s plan to present an updated Cornelius UPAA ordinance later this fall, explaining roles, maps and coordination with cities.
Michelle Miller, senior planner in Washington County’s Community Planning section, briefed the Planning Commission on July 15 about Urban Planning Area Agreements (UPAAs) and the upcoming Cornelius UPAA ordinance expected later this fall.
Miller explained that UPAAs are agreements between the county and cities that define each city’s urban planning area (unincorporated lands inside the regional urban growth boundary) and outline how the city and county coordinate comprehensive planning and development. UPAAs are treated as elements of the county’s comprehensive plan and are updated through the ordinance process.
Miller said the county adopted original UPAAs in 1983 and that many were updated between 2017 and 2022 to reflect urban and rural reserve designations and changes in how future expansion areas are assigned to cities. She said the Cornelius UPAA is out of date and staff are coordinating with Cornelius city staff on updates; the revised agreement will return to the commission and then the Board as an ordinance this fall.
Miller described common UPAA provisions: maps showing urban planning areas and urban reserve areas, responsibilities for comprehensive planning, and requirements to comply with regional rules such as Metro’s Urban Growth Management Functional Plan Title 11 (where applicable). She also noted the county’s interest in ensuring planning for unincorporated areas addresses road funding, access management and service coordination.
Commissioners asked about timing and city processes; Miller said cities often adopt their parts by resolution while the county proceeds via ordinance, and that staff coordinate with city legal counsel and service providers as needed. She said the Beaverton UPAA was most recently updated in 2018 and that the Cornelius update will reflect earlier regional reserve decisions without requiring map ordinances when reserve areas are later added to the urban growth boundary.
No formal action was taken; the item was a policy and process briefing ahead of a forthcoming ordinance.
