Bill > HB2853

This bill provides a new mechanism for smaller cities (with populations under 55,000) outside the Metro area to expand their urban growth boundaries (UGB) for specific purposes. The bill allows these cities to identify up to 80 contiguous acres of land adjacent to their existing UGB, with a requirement that no more than 50% of the identified land can be used for industrial purposes (including semiconductor and high-tech facilities), while the remaining land must be preserved as open space or parkland. Local governments must amend their comprehensive plans and land use regulations to accommodate these changes within 100 days of identifying the lands, and can do so regardless of existing land use planning goals related to agriculture, forest use, or urbanization. The bill includes several key restrictions: a city can only expand its UGB once under this provision, cannot rezone the newly added lands for 30 years, and the entire program is set to sunset on January 2, 2037. Additionally, the bill repeals several existing statutes related to industrial site development, effectively replacing an older industrial siting program with this new, more limited urban growth boundary expansion approach. The legislation aims to provide flexible economic development opportunities for smaller cities while maintaining some constraints on land use changes.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB2853