It is going to be a busy week here in the valley. The expansion of our Urban Growth Boundary is about to happen at the hand of one Tina Kotek. Our local politicians are begging the Oregon Governor to throw out Oregon’s land use laws, set up by revered iconic Governor Tom McCall, and move Hillsboro’s growth boundary miles to the West. All that land will be used for more Industries, primarily semiconductor plants and those companies that support them. The requirement of Senate Bill 4, forced through the legislature by Hillsboro Senator Jean Sollman in 2022, was that IF, and only if, land was needed for a large employer, Governor Kotek could move the Hillsboro Urban Growth Boundary West of Jackson School onto prime farmland. That IF is the question we must ask, given that Intel is financially falling apart and being broken apart by its financial advisors.
I don’t think Hillsboro has a serious employer who can guarantee they are ready to expand or locate here in Hillsboro. In the past, Hillsboro city officials have participated in a shell game to develop thousands of acres in North Hillsboro for a secret employer named Project Azalea. Many, including officials in New York, believe we were lied to and used for a mega million doallar scam. The land was expanded for “high-paying jobs” and is now what I call Data Center Hells Canyon just west of Brookwood and Huffman. The jobs never came, the farmland and views are gone, and the land owners cleaned up!
Oregonian reporter Mike Rogoway wrote a detailed report on what is about to happen in Hillsboro. The man nailed it- and you must read this if you care about our valley.
Battle looms over using farmland for Oregon semiconductor research center
Behind all of this is Intel. A company in serious trouble. Yes, they are promised $8.5 Billion in CHIPS ACT funding from the Biden administration. However, that commitment is being questioned as the company is now in the hands of its bankers, who are pushing to break it apart. They have not been able to show they can build new computer fabs and keep them open and employed (the company is laying off 15,000 workers right now), let alone commit to a place like Hillsboro where they are ready to dig in for more. And the FEDS are nervous and may hold up that funding. And you know what? They should.
An upcoming recipient of $8.5 billion in grants and $11 billion in loans from the 2022 Chips and Science Act, the Silicon Valley-based chipmaker will only receive these funds if it fulfills certain key milestones and undergoes thorough due diligence. This process, which is standard for all Chips Act winners, aims to guarantee that taxpayer money is only allocated to companies that have effectively delivered on their commitments. Similar to other potential recipients, Intel has not yet received any funding.
Even though we do not have any clear path forward for Intel, and Hillsboro already has hundreds of acres of vacant Industrial land, our Governor is being pushed by Intel, Senator Ron Wyden, Sollman, our Mayor Steve Callaway, and others. Mayoral Candidate Beach Pace, Callaway, Sollman, and key Hillsboro staff members like Dan Dias have testified at meetings, met with land owners far outside our City, and lobbied for this to happen for years. This is BIG, and it will forever change our valley. The climate, ecosystems, roads, housing, air quality, and livability will all suffer.
The Herald has covered the build-up to what comes next in a series of articles- you can find them here – https://hillsboroherald.com/?s=Industrial
Our sources tell us that the Governor is moving quickly now to make an announcement. The Oregon CHIPS ACT, which allows her to take her pen and bleed red ink all over our valley, terminates at year’s end. The State needs money, and this is the cash cow. So, people of Hillsboro, you live here, but you have no say in what happens to us. This cast of characters will all lay down for that all-mighty dollar. We are creating a machine that we can not sustain with the hope of high-paying jobs- they have not come in the past decade and are not coming. AI and robotics will see to that. In the end, the valley will be erased as we know it we will be the victims of bad decisions. Bad decisions like the one Kotek is about to make.
Stay tuned for more, we will cover all of this. Including donations to these politicians by land owners who are about to see hundreds of Millions drop into their accounts as their lands are used in this sad and now corrupted process.
Thank you again Dirk, for this very informative article!
You are most welcome, Edith. We will keep the stories coming in and exposing what is happening. Without Charolyn this sort of story would not happen – not ever!
Hi Dirk,
I’m fairly new to the area and appreciate your articles. Are you the same Dirk Knudsen who is the realtor on an industrial piece of land listed for sale in FG by the new traffic circle?
I am.. nothing happening on that parcel yet. But NO data centers! It’s important to know that parcel has been zoned industrial for decades and is part of our existing industrial land base. It is not new or expanded land. There are some things happening there..but nothing certain. That land is the North edge of the UGB so all the land North if there is protected farm land with nice creeks and ponds creating a great barrier and boundary for conflicting uses to meet.
If you claim that a US senator is wrong, our governor is wrong, Amazon is wrong, the DoD is wrong, the largest employer in your town is wrong, yet this employer pays (via taxes) almost all bills in the whole county, you got to consider that maybe, just mabe you are wrong yourself?
It’s not about being right and wrong. It’s about being allowed to live in a town you love without these outside forces manipulating the will of the local people. It is happening here and in North Plains. There are many towns where jobs are needed and people want this sort of outside manipulation and investment. There is a growing majority here that don’t want this. The Governor is going to do something no governor has ever done before. That makes her an overlord. To me that’s not OK. And what does Amazon or the DoD have to do with anything?
“If you claim that a U.S. senator is wrong…”
I love his appeals to authority that he clearly feels are beyond reproach. If these were such infallible, rock-solid planning schemes, they’d be subject to the same process that every other expansion of the UGB was. Hell, they might even be subject to public referendum that might consider whether the folks living right across Evergreen want industrial emissions in their backyard.
But SB 4 didn’t allow for that, so lil’ Marc’s beloved senator, governor and publicly traded companies don’t get palm fronds laid at their feet as he’d like. Poor little Marc: Corporations and the public officials they befriend can’t possibly be wrong, can they?!
Sure, senators can be wrong. But this senator has been reelected several times by the people of Oregon (he has served us for 28 years). You may not like him but the majority of the electorate apparently trusts him.
And what makes you think I am little?
“But this senator has been reelected several times by the people of Oregon (he has served us for 28 years). You may not like him but the majority of the electorate apparently trusts him.”
You realize that Senators run on more than one plank of a campaign, and that their constituents likely agree with some of them a lot more than others, right? Also, Hillsboro had fewer than 40,000 people when he was initially elected and was a largely rural community. That his assessment of its needs now hasn’t wavered much from what it was then shouldn’t be comforting… let alone worth following blindly.
Your myopic worldview is childlike, so “little” isn’t much of a stretch.
Feds questioning investing in Intel? Why would the DoD then grant $3 billion? https://finance.yahoo.com/news/intel-confirms-3-billion-defense-190148627.html/
Intel falling apart? Amazon does not think so. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/newsroom/news/intel-strategic-collaboration.html#gs.fcsjf5
Makes me wonder where you get your news from.
Marc;
As an independent observer, I’ve conducted my own research on Intel’s future. Unlike those within the company, I’m not reliant on internal propaganda. Having lived and worked here for decades, I’ve developed relationships with top Intel executives. They’ve confided in me that robotics and AI are poised to significantly reduce the company’s workforce.
Intel has undoubtedly contributed to Oregon’s success, but its continued tax breaks and environmental impact raise concerns. If job losses, further pollution, and strained infrastructure outweigh the long-term benefits, we must reevaluate our relationship with the company.
Rumors suggest that Jones Farm may be on the chopping block. While you may focus on positive news, I’m looking at the broader picture. I hope for Intel’s success, but I’m also concerned about our community’s future.
Whoa! An Amazon collab?! That’s incredible news! For Ohio…
“With this expanded collaboration, Intel and AWS underscore their commitments to accelerating U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing and creating a vibrant AI ecosystem in Ohio. Intel continues to be committed to the New Albany area and its plans to build leading edge semiconductor manufacturing. AWS is planning to invest $7.8 billion to expand its data center operations in Central Ohio, in addition to the $10.3 billion it has invested in the state of Ohio since 2015.”
“This collaboration between Intel and AWS is a great development for U.S.-based manufacturing and solidifying Ohio as a leader in AI,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Today’s announcement furthers Intel’s commitment to U.S. manufacturing sites, like Ohio’s, as well as AWS’s commitment to its nearly decade-long investment in our state.”
Meanwhile, Intel lost 60% of its value this year, cut 15% of its workforce and had to spin off the foundries, and is getting bailout $ from the DoD? What company bulletin board are you getting your news from, Marc?
373 acres of willing sellers that happen to be farm land now seem like a very small sacrifice for the economic benefits (Quality of jobs, ability to pay for the new cost of living, ability to buy a home) that this type of acreage represents. Our farming community if vital and important but if the next 2 decades of growth and prosperity can be secured for this small sale to willing sellers, we would be silly not to compete for the CHIPS act opportunities. This is hardly changing the landscape of the community, the farmers already abut one the larger Tech hubs in North America.
May I ask what you do for a living and where apx. you reside?
“All bills in the whole county”?? What does that even mean, especially when it’s blatantly false. Single family homes literally subsidize Intel’s water usage by overpaying so they can underpay. Aside from the jobs they no longer provide, I fail to see how Intel “pays all the bills in the county.” 🙄
When you factor in SIP agreements, enterprise zones and deals on water and electricity, “pays all the bills in the county” doesn’t quite pencil.
Some Intel folks spend too much time licking the badge.
Did it ever occur to you that everyone might be right at the same time?
Wyden could be correct, in that the facility would have enormous impact for the state. Intel would be right in that this might be a temporary shot in the arm for them, but shouldn’t that come from someone other than an engineer? And all of the landowners could be right: Those who want to sell on land contiguous to other industrial development should certainly have that right. Those who are still living in areas under the rural reserve near other landowners who don’t want to go should also have their voices heard.
And I’m sorry, but did either Kotek or Amazon actually weigh in here? Because it doesn’t look like they did. In fact, Amazon’s been a nonfactor in the discussion and hasn’t brought AWS resources into play. They’ve parked as many delivery trucks here as they plan to, so they aren’t right, wrong or otherwise.
Meanwhile, Marc, until you actually have some skin in the game, you’ll forgive us if we don’t go trotting blindly behind you as you affix your tongue to the nearest boot and fall in line with the other sycophants.
Thanks again Dirk–I put off reading it for a day–but a nice nextdoor neighbor also posted it, so I clicked on. I knew I was going to be depressed (already am so frustrated with blatant choices Hillsboro Water is making in favor of Industry–& dumping the costs on residents)–but do appreciate the information and the Political Players identified.
Pay Attention Hillsboro–do we want more and more of this same, same, same–or do we want new people in leadership? The Elections are right around the corner. Then remember when it is time to vote for a new governor also (hope we have a decent choice for someone new!!!)–agree–such a far overreach!!!
Data Center Hells Canyon–great description :-)
Honestly now, how many of ya voted for Tina, eh?
The good news is it wasn’t 1,700. The bad news? It’s 373, and they haven’t said where: https://www.opb.org/article/2024/09/18/oregon-governor-kotek-proposes-expanding-hillsboro-urban-growth-boundary-semiconductor-facility/
I just heard- It is going to be the property where the old Joe Meek Farm was – so East of the Rotary at the Jackson and 26 interchange and then South to the Windmill and then East to the Jackson East property- that piece geographically makes the most sense. I expect if that is all that is brought in, the rest of the 1,700 acres will still be on the table for a while. I expect the housing discussion to come back into the mix immediately with UGB expansion for residential on the rest of it being the hot topic going forward. That I think would be one way to sort of complete the future of Hillsboro’s UGB for the coming Decade or two. Time will tell. The big question is who is needing this expansion. The SB 4 rules sort of laid out that a user would need to materialize that needs the property and wants to expand and use CHIPS ACT money for said expansion. I will know soon. The 1000 Friends seemed to know about this a few days ago and I know that internal discussions have been on going for sometime. The funny or odd thing was that no one from the City had made offers to or spoken to those land owners, except for maybe the Hodges. The empahsis was on getting the Western owners to Scotch Church in – this whole thing has been back door deals all along. Tim V and a large group of landowners was in the City Hall last week and seen leaving the elevator after a meeting. One can only imagine the manuevering that has been happening. Thanks for the post- more to follow on this topic!
Thanks, Jason.
Dirk
I’m admittedly not super connected to those particular neighbors, but at the one North Hillsboro meeting I attended—and that Beach Pace dropped into as a council candidate long ago—many of the people who want to sell seem genuinely excited about the area becoming a walkable neighborhood with the new trail running through it and access to amenities.
From what I gathered at city meetings, those who want to unload their land for any reason don’t seem to be in the majority or even the plurality. I didn’t see a whole lot of enthusiasm for industrial usage, and I couldn’t blame them.
I’m not fooling myself into thinking it’s going to be quiet up here forever, but given our neighbors across Evergreen and some of the master planning I’ve seen for what the fields might look like once the UGB eventually comes up this way, I think there’s a means of actually doing some good here. We’ll see if it comes to fruition, but not parking industry across from Evergreen Middle is a fine start.
I agree- My understanding is that Mr Hammond and others in the glass palace have already started discussing next steps. I think this will be a hard fought decision. In the end, not crossing over Jackson School with heavy industry is a total win for the community if that is what happens. The Hillsboro Housing Needs Analysis will be coming out. South Hillsboro will probably not make it another 10 years. The potential for a North Hillsboro master plan community from Waible Creek to Evergreen and over to Glencoe is really intriguing. The issue with all of that is Tom V. Until he gets paid and what he wants there will be no rest. None. The hearing in October is going to be wild- one that people should attend just for the show alone!
All the land owners in this area are in agreement and have hired a single point of contact to help facilitate and seamless sale and economic boom for our state for the following decades.
And you are sure of this how? I know there are two or three holdouts.
Dirk & Jason;
Governor Kotek has until the end of this year to bring in more lands. She may not be done yet. We shall see.
She does, but only for purposes related to the CHIPS Act. And to pass the hearing period and get to the development stage as quickly as possible, work would have to begin in earnest in October.
By the letter of SB 4, the “magic wand” powers end on Dec. 31. Logistically, we’re a lot closer to their actual deadline.
I am already hearing our friend Ms Sollman or othrs are working and extension to SB 4 – I would like to see this chapter closed by year end.
I don’t see that happening. They didn’t do a great job of convincing Kotek of the merits of a 1,700-acre expansion that would still fall short of what Arizona and New York State are offering.
To me, that’s how little confidence Bobby Bridgelighter has inspired as city manager. If you’re Kotek and you’ve seen what the city has done with industrial land it’s brought into the UGB since 2014 and see an argument for more based on—by the looks of this expansion—no solid evidence, I don’t blame her for simply rounding the edge, listening to the Hodges and washing her hands of this.
The North Hillsboro Alliance, at the end of the day, represents very few gubernatorial votes (if any, given the flags that often line Scotch Church Road), and not enough for her to get embroiled in a second Washington County spat about large-scale UGB expansion while the last one’s in litigation.
Frankly, telling a group of speculators (which is what we’re talking about at this point) to pound sand is far from the worst thing Kotek can do. That puts the heat back onto their legislators and forces the North Hillsboro Alliance to actually back its “return to Urban Reserve” plan: http://nwhillsboro.org/concept-plan.html
I hope you are right. We could use a break from Danny and the team in the glass palace running rough shod over everyone. We have much bigger issues festering internally then more external growth. Your comments are just always so nice to hear. I’ve lived this reality for 40 years here and especially in Orenco where we used to pick strawberries and bail hay 30 years ago in every direction. All gone now and the construction never stopped… finally it’s a quieter noisy. But what’s lost is lost. Intel plume nightly to the North… screaming from apartments on the tracks… graffiti… busses and deliver trucks flying down Alder. Cars backing up on Century during rush hour for blocks. But the one thing is old historic Orenco stayed weird and wild. The best pocket of radicals and rebels…and we have witches and warlocks and more than one too. So, I get along and go along to a point. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great feeling to strap on the Armour and fight. And you know what, I’ve had some wins. Some good ones. People don’t know that, but I do. And I can’t deny the fact that this town needed its punch bowl stirred and spiked. I’m doing that and seeing it play out in discussions all over town. Things were too comfortable, too one sided. It’s hard to be the one to see the most and still be on the field. But I am reminded of the words of the great one, and find solace and utter truth in them.
‘I did not care what it was all about. All I wanted to know was how to live in it. Maybe if you found out how to live in it you learned from that what is was all about.’
Until next time.
Oregon is NOT California!! That is what these elected Californias are trying to do to Oregon, make us into California. We love our country life and with all this so called growth, our property taxes go up so high we struggle to pay it and water and electric are going the same way ! Seniors on fixed incomes can’t afford to pay these prices let alone struggling family’s!! Something has to give.
I found your maps very confusing. The orientation is flipped North/South and East/West. I live in this area and West Union is north of Hwy 26 and Jackson School Road is West of Cornelius Pass, opposite of what your maps show. Intel is south of Hwy 26. Please update your maps with correct navigational orientation.
Nancy – There are plenty of land marks on there. Look at the latest article as the decision has been made. It has both orientations. The issue with just using a North orientation is that it does not show the perspective of how the City of Hillsboro and the thousands of homes are impacted. I am happy to speak by phone and am easy to reach- 503-799-8383.
Thanks for reading!
Dirk