North Plains community grappling with competing visions for the town and how it should grow

The city of North Plains has a population that hovers around 3,500. Like so many small communities in Oregon it has a strong sense of identity and a closeness among residents that other bigger cities just don’t have.  As part of our effort to cover both urban and rural communities all over the state, we sent out a community survey to find out what people in this Washington county town value and what the biggest challenges they face. We heard predominately about the quality of life here and the challenges of reconciling different views of how to improve life here and plan for growth. We invited the community to participate in a conversation about North Plains at the Atfalati Ridge Elementary School in North Plains on June 11, 2-26. About 55 people showed up, and many shared what they think makes North Plains and why they think the urban growth boundary should be left alone or expanded.  Our guests included Robin Doughty, director of the North Plains Public Library; Rowan Maiorano, assistant planner for the city; Daniel Stinchfield, who sits on the UGB Public Advisory Committee; Patti Burns, director of the Senior Center and Vice President of the North Plains Events Association; Lora Dexheimer, founder of the North Plains Food Bank; Russ Sheldon, business owner and former city councilor; and Emily Waldron and Elizabeth Beaupain with Friends of Smart Growth North Plains.