91ÊÓƵ

The Basalt Creek Concept Plan has finally been finalized.

Wilsonville and Tualatin city councils formally adopted the plan at respective meetings on Aug. 6 and 13, pushing forward the effort to allow industrial, commercial and residential development in an 847-acre area of rural Washington County between the two cities.

The effort stretches back to 2004, when the Metro Council added the Basalt Creek Planning Area within the urban growth boundary. Seven years later, Metro entered into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the two cities to carry out concept planning. That began in 2013, but eventually a disagreement arose over the land use designation for the central subarea. To solve the dispute, Metro, Washington County, the city of Tualatin and the city of Wilsonville earlier this year entered into another IGA allowing Metro to settle the issue.

Metro made its decision May 3, giving the cities just 120 days to adopt a resolution accepting the concept plan. A conceptual land use plan addresses the general nature of proposed land uses for a specified area. It delves into transportation, natural resources, public facilities and infrastructure strategies, among other areas. In short, the concept plan broadly oversees the ultimate layout for development. It doesn’t have to be completely engineered, but it should have details sufficient to illustrate a probable development pattern.

In general, Tualatin has long wanted to expand its housing stock, while Wilsonville has primarily sought additional industrial and commercial space. With the Basalt Creek Concept Plan, those broad wishes are generally addressed.

The planning area generally is bound by Southwest Norwood Road and Helenius Street to the north, Interstate 5 to the east, Day Road to the south and Coffee Lake Creek to the west.

The area has distinctive natural features as well as wetlands running north to south through the eastern portion. Existing land uses include agricultural, industrial and rural residential.

Washington County recently completed construction of a section of the Basalt Creek Parkway. In the future, it will connect Grahams Ferry Road and Boones Ferry Road, and extend east over Interstate 5.

For more information, visit .