The Urban Reserve expansion is designed to provide opportunities for future expansion of Newberg over the long term.  The Urban Reserve is projected to include adequate land for a 2040 population of 54,097.  The Urban Reserve includes 2,146 acres of land (1,645 buildable acres).

The Urban Reserve was reviewed by the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission on July 21, 2009.  At that meeting, Newberg agreed to a voluntary remand of the application.  The intent of the remand is to allow Newberg to draft new findings in support of urban reserve.

The Land Conservation and Development Commission issued its written remand order on April 22, 2010.  The order directs Newberg as follows: 

1. The City's decision designating URAs is remanded to remove identification of specific industrial, commercial, institutional, and livability needs.

2. The City's decision designating URAs is remanded to adopt findings based on the overall acreage of land needed for the planning period.

3. The City's decision designating URAs is remanded to make new determinations regarding inclusion or exclusion of specific study areas, consistent with this order.

A copy of the order can be found at the link below.  We expect hearings on the remand to take place later in the spring of 2012.