North Plains Leadership Rushes Growth Relook Causing Further Rifts In The Community

Community rifts in North Plains have escalated to a fever pitch as the city grapples with a proposed urban growth boundary expansion. The Aug. 5 city council meeting was a microcosm of the deep divisions that have fractured the once-quiet town.  In a long meeting, many expressed their deepest concerns and feelings about this battle over growth, which has been pushed onto the residents for the past year or more.  It ended, so it seemed, with citizens rejecting the massive 855-acre expansion, with 72% of voters saying a defiant NO to North Plains Mayor Teri Lenahan and her Council.  After the drubbing at the ballot boxes, it seemed the Mayor wanted to take some time and lower the residents’ temperature by listening and returning to the drawing board.

The vote to stop the growth plans approved by the Mayor and Council was in late May.  On June 5th, Mayor Lenahan told the Hillsboro News-Times, “We are very early in assessing next steps for a future UGB expansion area,” Lenahan said. “We look forward to working together with the community with positivity and respect to make North Plains the strongest and best community it can be.” https://www.hillsboronewstimes.com/news/north-plains-plans-in-limbo-following-urban-growth-boundary-rejection/article_7ddd9d8e-2396-11ef-b67b-eb333e2e1455.html

Well, that statement did not age well. The Council is already rushing to assemble a Project Advisory Committee and has set many rules in meetings and other discussions. While councilors initially planned to vote on the next steps at the meeting, the decision has been postponed until Sept. 3.

There was some excellent testimony, which can be seen and heard in the YouTube video of this Council meeting. For the most part, people kept their composure.  Not, however, former North Plains Mayor Cynthia Hirst, who came in like General Patton to support the City and scold those who voted NO and dared to speak up during this process.

“I want to thank all of you council members for all of the stuff that you’ve had to deal with in the last year.  You all know what I am talking about,” said Hirst.  Then, in a series of sentences, she lit up people involved in the process and complained about the “nasty phrases” people were using.  She went on for a few sentences exalting the City Staff and Council for putting in “1000s of hours” on the growth topic.  She then turned to the crowd, made eye contact with some of them, and scolded them.

“Where have you been the last ten years?”

“Farming,” said one respondent.

Barely flinching, Hirst continued in her terse, almost mean testimony.  You can see it right here and in the Video above.

This sort of thing, this arrogance that she has shown, as well as Lenahan and members of the Council, is typical of where we are as suburban and rural communities.  Cities hold closed executive sessions to discuss growth strategies, legal cases, etc.  They don’t engage at any real grassroots house-to-house level.  Very few actual town hall Q and A sessions.  They get caught in an echo chamber and ultimately become tone-deaf.  What comes across as indifference might more likely be the inability to appreciate that people outside the bubble don’t know or connect because no one has done that with them.  In this case, Hirst is full of it.

North Plains residents rejected Urban Growth expansions before and fought over the last expansion many years ago.  These last few years, the City has talked around this issue, and three or four areas were consistently discussed as possibilities.  However, it was not until 2023 that a map of the 855-acre expansion was shown; the plan effectively doubled the town’s size and proposed industrial zoning next to new homes and schools.  The people of North Plains are smart- they are trusting.  But that trust and their goodwill to try and go along and get along is gone for now.

Hirst came across as nasty and disengaged, perhaps living on the laurels of the past. All she did was add razor wire to the barbwire fence that has already been erected between City Hall and the pro-growth side and the 72% of the citizens of North Plains who expect something better. She should have been corrected or calmed down by Lenahan, but the Mayor sat in silence and watched—perhaps gleefully—I know not.

Let’s not forget that Lenahan and the Council were on record as saying they had to push this growth through because it was required by State Law.  Others who understand land use laws, including me, knew that was untrue.  So the Herald contacted the (DLCD ) Department of Land Conservation and Development to confirm what we already knew.  The question was, do cities like North Plains have to grow – is it a State Law like Mayor Lenahan has stated?  Answer – No, it is not!

“A city with a population below 10,000 outside of Portland Metro is not required to update their comprehensive plan, housing needs analysis, or economic opportunity analysis on a regular schedule. Cities with populations above 10,000 outside of Portland Metro need to update every 8 years, but cities below 10,000 are not obliged to update those plans – it is voluntary. This is due to HB 2003 of 2019. For confirmation, see that North Plains is not listed on the Housing Capacity Analysis Update Schedule for Oregon Cities attachment to OAR 660-008-0045 “ Director – DLCD

These personal attacks and accusations have become commonplace as tensions rise. Mayor Lenahan’s complaints about the harassment she has received highlight the toxic atmosphere that has permeated the community. Let’s not forget that we tend to reap what we sew.

Meanwhile, some critics accuse city leaders of being out of touch with the desires of ordinary residents.

“One of the major concerns that we’ve had is the apparent self-dealing if you will, and maybe just the appearance of it,” stated resident Jeremy Anderson. He went on to say that as a resident, he wants to suggest that none of the large landowners who stand to make huge profits should be allowed on the Committee. He is right. Those lands must come in because they have merit and make smart additions to the City. Period.

What will happen next?  Well, for one, elections are happening.  It is a good bet that the November elections will generate some new Councilors, and when that happens, these growth plans, which are not wanted, not required, and not needed, may be called off altogether.

North Plains is a battlefield- and people like Hirst and Lenahan need to bring their A games and not these tactics if they want their side to win.