Carl Hosticka

In what many described as a historic moment, the Metro Council today designated 28,615 acres of urban reserves around the region. For the next fifty years, when Metro considers expanding the urban growth boundary, the focus will be on these lands. Metro has worked with the counties for three years to identify lands suitable for development and to determine the region's most important farms, forests and natural areas. The four agencies reached initial agreements on a regional map of urban and rural reserves in February. Clackamas and Multnomah county commissions passed ordinances in May designating their rural reserves. The Washington County Commission anticipates designating rural reserves June 15.

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Where do you look online for green-living tips and trends? What types of sustainability information do you seek on the web? How do you share ideas with others? Metro has launched a web survey to learn this and more from folks across the region as the agency updates its online resources.Go to the survey

From recycling waste and protecting habitat to driving less and building green, Metro wants to make it even easier for people to find information, exchange ideas and take action toward sustainable living at home, in the office or on the go. Survey results will help guide development of web content and tools to further promote regional sustainability.

Take the five-minute survey, available through Sunday, April 11, at www.surveymonkey.com/s/oregonmetro.

Tigard wants to buy a 43-acre piece of land in the heart of the city known as Summer Creek to preserve it as the city's second largest park and a natural area for everyone to enjoy. That effort just received a $1 million boost from Metro's Nature in Neighborhoods capital grants program.

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The Metro Council and boards of commissioners of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties approved agreements this week that will set aside more than 272,100 acres of farmland, forestland and natural areas to be excluded from urban growth during the next 50 years. The agreements also set aside about 28,100 acres of land for potential future growth needs during that same period.

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The Metro Council has approved several major planning efforts to improve connections and offer transportation choices in the Southwest metro corridor. The transportation corridor, or travel demand area, includes Barbur Boulevard and Interstate 5 as the main travel routes from Portland to Tigard and Barbur Boulevard/Highway 99W as the main travel route on to Sherwood.

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