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After a process that took nearly three years, the land that will hold future growth in the Portland-metro region is now – almost – fully mapped out for the next 50 years.

Oregon’s Land Conservation and Development Commission, after delaying its final decision a week, officially approved a large majority of urban and rural reserves in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties last Friday. The land-use commission approved nearly 28,000 acres of urban reserves and 267,000 acres of rural reserves in its final decision.

But the body didn’t approve every designation outlined in a report from regional government Metro.

LCDC decided against the inclusion of a 264-acre urban reserve north of Cornelius. The commission also sent back a 508-acre parcel north of Forest Grove to Washington County planners. The county planners now have time to retool the parcel or pick out a different parcel for urban reserve designation. Anything the county planners decide will ultimately have to be approved by LCDC.

Land that received an urban reserve designation will be considered for inclusion into any urban growth boundary expansion during the next 50 years. Land that received a rural designation will be preserved for agriculture, forest production or natural habitat use.

The commission’s final decision had been delayed a week to further examine the parcels near Cornelius and Forest Grove, as well as a 2,700-acre parcel north of Hillsboro that the council ultimately approved.