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The Washington County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last night to approve the county’s agreement with Metro designating urban and rural reserves. It’s the first of the three Portland-area counties to approve the agreement and map showing where the urban growth boundary can expand over the next 50 years.

The Multnomah and Clackamas county boards are set to consider their respective agreements on Thursday. All three counties and the Metro Council would need to approve the agreements before the urban and rural reserves can take effect.

In 2007, the Oregon Legislature allowed Metro to start the urban and rural reserve process as an alternative to selecting land for future development based on soil classification. Establishing a reserve of urban land would let people know that the land could someday be developed; the rural reserve would be protected for 50 years.

The process has sometimes been contentious, with cities and counties expressing conflicting priorities. If it wraps up successfully, Metro officials say, it will make future urban growth decisions less controversial.