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"Sprawl" used to mean disorganized growth on the edge of a city, but lately "no sprawl" has become synonymous with "no growth". Sprawl was and is bad for an economy because it does not use our money efficiently--especially the money we invest in transportation.

Ironically, the very policies and governments we created to organize growth and prevent sprawl have created one of the largest mega-cities in Oregon and will force entire "cities" into long distance commutes.

Primarily through the formation of special districts, Washington County has become more and more like a large, disorganized city, serving over a quarter million people with no other local government. And Metro's Making the Greatest Place policies will cast several city-sized areas into the role of bedroom with no jobs--dependent on a transportation system that cannot expand.

In any other state, that would be sprawl.

"Up or Out" is the wrong question. We should be asking, "How do we get back on track with our original goals."

posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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