The original state rules included a provision for expanding urban growth boundaries, but critics felt this was not being accomplished. In 1995, the State passed a law requiring cities to expand UGBs to provide enough undeveloped land for a 20-year supply of future housing at projected growth levels. In 2007, the legislature changed the law to require the maintenance of an estimated 50 years of growth within the boundary, as well as the protection of accompanying farm and rural lands. The growth boundary, along with efforts of the Portland Development Commission to create economic development zones, has led to the development of a large portion of downtown, a large number of mid- and high-rise developments, and an overall increase in housing and business density.
the original state rules included a provision for expanding urban growth boundaries but critics felt this was not being accomplished in 1995 the state passed a law requiring cities to expand ugbs to provide enough undeveloped land for a 20-year supply of future housing at projected growth levels in 2007 the legislature changed the law to require the maintenance of an estimated 50 years of growth within the boundary as well as the protection of accompanying farm and rural lands the growth boundary along with efforts of the portland development commission to create economic development zones has led to the development of a large portion of downtown a large number of mid- and high-rise developments and an overall increase in housing and business density