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In the fifth blog of this series I discussed how suburban development of the last half century was largely funded by a growth-based scheme that has turned out to be very inadequate in keeping pace with ongoing expenses. This shortsightedness has had tremendously negative consequences for municipal finances, and makes many communities unsustainable going forward.

So, what needs to happen? The focus in the immediate future needs to be on making the best use of existing infrastructure systems (streets, sewer, water, etc.), and not extending them to serve increasingly distant development. Most of these systems have excess capacity that can be utilized to serve greater density within existing developed areas. This will mean a strong emphasis on sensitive redevelopment of many of our suburban areas 鈥� a difficult but necessary task. As those systems reach full capacity, careful planning should guide urban growth to ensure its supportive infrastructure is fully paid for 鈥� not just the initial construction but long-term maintenance as well. This will place a continuing strong priority on compact regional growth. The future development of 鈥渞egenerative systems鈥� (on-site solar electricity generation, water reuse and recycling, etc.) will also increasingly provide environmental and fiscal benefits rather than drain public resources.

Luckily for residents in the Portland area, Metro and its regional partners already have plans in place that will make less costly infrastructure easier to achieve than in any other region in the country. But even here it鈥檚 a constant struggle to keep the Urban Growth Boundary as tight as possible. Pressure to expand the boundary and allow more low-density development is constant. But as history shows, the fiscal health of our communities, as well as their environmental and human health, must be actively protected.