Guest View – March 2026 Issue

IN A RECENT flurry of Facebook posts, many of us have seen questions about the City ‘s plans regarding a proposed Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) amendment. It’s clear from this energy that we all share a deep investment in Jacksonville’s future. To provide some clarity, here is some basic information about where we are in these important discussions.

In truth, discussions about a UGB amendment are not new to our city, and they stem from a place we all understand: a desire to protect the town that we love. As a National Historic Landmark, we face a challenge that few other towns face—how to balance the need to remain vibrant and unique, while also addressing housing and affordability, all while considering potential strain on infrastructure and public safety needs of our community. In Jacksonville, we must be vigilant about what makes our city so special: its historic designation, its small-town feeling, and its considerable charm. By leading this process ourselves, we ensure that Jacksonville—not the State or outside interests—decides how and where we grow. It’s about keeping the steering wheel in our local hands.

This current round of local discussions began several years ago. For many years, cities in Oregon received annual population growth projection data from Portland State University (PSU), which was used to inform our twenty-year planning horizon. Separately, our own Jacksonville Comprehensive Plan has called for additional employment land since 2009—a need that has remained unaddressed for over 15 years. Oregon Senate Bill 100 (1973) requires all of us to plan responsibly for both types of growth.

Based on these local needs and PSU’s projections, in April 2024, the City seated a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to study the data. A primary part of the TAC’s charge was to look “inward” first—evaluating if changes to our current zoning might yield enough space for housing and jobs without needing to amend the UGB. The TAC worked diligently for a year, analyzing data, and visiting sites within the city.

In late 2024, the State introduced the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (OHNA). While earlier PSU data suggested we were short by about 100 housing units, the new methodology showed a significantly higher deficit. Combining this with our long-standing 2009 need for more employment land, the TAC found that the data shows that we don’t have available land within our current boundary to meet the combined needs. Because the data showed these gaps, the TAC recommended that more in-depth analysis is warranted. Therefore, the City Council approved a scope of work to begin a more comprehensive UGB review process to address these gaps, and for the City to enlist a consulting team to assist with in-depth data collection and review.

In January 2026, the City established a new Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to evaluate this research and to review the detailed data prepared by our consulting team. It is important to know that the CAC is made up of Jacksonville residents serving in an advisory role, who will ultimately forward recommendations to the City’s Planning Commission.

Over the last two years, the city has received proposals from landowners outside of the UGB, which is a normal and expected part of this type of review. To be thorough, the City will eventually look at all candidate lands adjacent to the current UGB, and the City will reach out to property owners when the time comes to ensure they are part of the conversation. Regardless of which areas are studied, there will be ample and ongoing opportunities for community input before any final decisions are reached.

In the meantime, here are some “FAQs”:

Where are we now?

First, it’s important to know that no official decisions have been made. We are currently in the in-depth analysis phase where our consultants are preparing a detailed data-driven report for the CAC to review. From there, the CAC—Jacksonville residents—will share their findings with the Planning Commission, who will then hold public hearings and deliberate before making a recommendation to City Council. No site has been selected, and no final decision has been reached to apply for an amendment.

Can we choose not to grow?

Many have asked if our status as a National Historic landmark exempts us from State Planning Rules. While there are exceptions within the district boundary, it does not exempt us from meeting mandatory state planning requirements and housing needs. Oregon law requires every city to plan for the future. Our goal is to meet these requirements while protecting the “Jacksonville feel” that makes this town so special.

If a UGB amendment is approved, will a landslide of houses appear next year?

No. The UGB process is a “land budget” for the next twenty years. We are planning for growth over two decades to ensure that if someone wants to build in Jacksonville 20 years from now, a lot is actually available to them. It is about preparing for the future, not a landslide of immediate construction.

How can I be involved in what’s going on?

Public participation is the heart of Oregon land use law. Our Committee for Citizen Involvement (CCI) will provide updates and host town hall meetings where you’ll be able to share your perspective. The City is just now working on an engagement plan for this process. This will be a long, involved process. Stay tuned.