HILLSBORO, Oregon — The battle between open farmland and development took center stage in Hillsboro Thursday night. Gov. Tina Kotek wants to use her executive authority to help grow Oregon's semiconductor industry by expanding the urban growth boundary (UGB).
A crowd of people, both for and against this proposed move, gathered for the one public meeting on the matter. Kotek has the limited authority, granted by Senate Bill 4 in 2023, to bring an area into the UGB specifically for microchip companies, research and manufacturing.
Oregon is currently competing with other states to be the home of a national research and development hub. Adding 373 acres to the UGB off Highway 26 and Jackson School Road is part of the Governor's plan to draw industry here.
"The creation of the National Semiconductor Technology Center, which will have at least three large locations around the country," said Vince Porter with the governor's office. "Oregon's long-standing history in semiconductors and having a talented workforce should make our state an ideal location for one of those three sites."
"Expanding an urban growth boundary to allow for the growth that the current UGB lands cannot accommodate is hard," said Washington County Commissioner Kathryn Harrington, "But the Board of Commissioners supports the work and decision of the governor to add these 373 acres to meet this historic opportunity."
As government officials made their case to expand, opponents like Aaron Nichols, a local vegetable farmer, explained why the governor should reconsider. One example: losing what he calls world-class soil.
"Once they're paved over, that's it," Nichols said, "But another concern is the farm economies need to be next to each other. We need to bring our combines across a road and not be going through an Intel campus."
Ahead of the meeting, dozens of people gathered outside the Hillsboro Civic Center with signs, voicing a need to "Stop the Sprawl." The group also expressed frustration with what they believe to be a less-than-transparent process and a land grab.
"We do not need to pit tech against farming!" said one of the speakers.
But back inside, several supporters called the expansion and bid for more federal funds to jumpstart the semiconductor industry a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and a way to lock in Oregon's future.
"It means that we would be attracting billions in federal investment, billions in private investment, millions in tax revenue, and thousands of good family, good living wage jobs for Oregonians. Those are the stakes," said Rep. Nathan Sosa, a Democrat representing the greater Hillsboro-area.
Correction: The reporter in the video above said 337 acres. The actual number is 373 acres.