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Analysis: Boardman needs roughly 800 acres of employment land over 20 years, driven by data center demand
Summary
Consultants told the Boardman council workshop that an adjusted forecast expects about 2,300 new jobs over 20 years and a gross employment‑land need of roughly 800 acres — about 625 acres of which is attributable to potential data center development inside the region.
Consultants presented an Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA) at the Boardman City Council workshop on Nov. 18, concluding the city faces a substantial employment‑land deficit over a 20‑year planning horizon. Brendan Buckley of Johnson Economics said the study converts employment forecasts into acreage and compares that need to the land supply inside the city’s urban growth boundary (UGB).
Buckley summarized the forecast and its implications: "that's 2,300 additional jobs, over that 20 year period," and explained that when those jobs are translated into typical site sizes and job densities the study finds a total gross need of a little over 800 acres outside the current UGB. The single largest component of that need — about 625 acres — comes from forecasted demand for data center development.
The report used both the state's population baseline and an adjusted scenario that accounts for historic local growth; the adjusted scenario (around 2.6% annual growth) produced the 2,300‑job figure. Buckley stressed the EOA is an analytical finding and not an automatic adoption of land‑use changes: it presents a menu of policy options, including UGB expansion, UGB swaps, rezoning, and code changes, to address the identified shortfall.
The consultants recommended pairing the EOA with an upcoming housing capacity analysis (HCA) and other code updates to ensure housing, schools and infrastructure are considered alongside employment land decisions. The planning commission is scheduled to review the draft in January, with city council consideration possible in February.
