In December 2018, Metro Council voted to expand the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) adjacent to Hillsboro's southern edge for an area referred to as "Witch Hazel Village South" (see Map 1:  Hillsboro Context).  The 150-acre Witch Hazel Village South (WHVS) is located immediately south of the existing Witch Hazel Village neighborhood, east of River Road, west of The Reserve Golf Club and South Hillsboro neighborhood.

WHVS SoHi

The City of Hillsboro was awarded a grant by Metro to complete Comprehensive Planning work for WHVS. Building upon the WHVS Concept Plan finalized in 2018, the Planning Division completed the WHVS Community Plan and Comprehensive Plan amendments in fall 2022. Planning Commission recommended the amendments for approval, and City Council adopted the WHVS amendments on November 15, 2022.

The WHVS Plan District was developed as a direct response to many implementation measures written in the Community Plan and Comprehensive Plan amendments. Staff presented the finalized Plan District code language to Planning Commission on February 8, 2023. The code amendments were recommended to the City Council for approval. The City Council considered the Planning Commission’s recommendation during their regular meetings on February 21, 2023 and March 7, 2023 and decided to approve an Ordinance on this matter.

Community Plan

WHVS Final Document CoverIn October 2022, the City of Hillsboro Planning Division finalized the Witch Hazel Village South Community Plan document, a guide for the growth and development of WHVS that includes information on transportation infrastructure, utilities, public services, and natural resources within WHVS and the surrounding community. View a map of the proposed Witch Hazel Village South land use designations from the Community Plan.

The WHVS Community Plan envisions a well-designed community with a range of housing options, a high level of connectivity for people walking, biking, and driving; and ready access to regional parks, schools, jobs and retail services.

 

WHVS Homes

WHVS Plan District

The Community Development Code amendments involve a new Witch Hazel Village South Plan District. This chapter in the code includes standards specific to this plan area that are meant to support and reinforce the proposed WHVS Comprehensive Plan amendments' goals, policies, and implementation measures.  The Plan District embraces clear and simple standards that reflect the context of this new residential growth area as well as fitting in to the Hillsboro community.

Goals, Policies and Implementation Measures

The Comprehensive Plan amendments include finalized goals, policies and implementation measures that reflect the vision for the WHVS neighborhood and outline major areas of planning and development. Read more about the goals, policies, and implementation measures for WHVS here.  

Goal 1:  Housing
Provide opportunities for a variety of housing choices to meet the needs of the City's current and future households.

Goal 2:  Multimodal and Active Transportation
Develop a safe, interconnected, and efficient multi-modal and active transportation system in the community plan area to serve the demands and transportation needs of its residents and visitors.

Goal 3:  Park Systems
Meet City park system level of services in this new neighborhood by offering unique opportunities for future residents and other community members.

Goal 4:  Significant Natural Resources and Wildlife Corridors
Preserve and enhance the function, quality, and diversity of natural resources and ecosystems.

Goal 5:  Vibrant Community
Support development of a vibrant and dynamic community with an interconnected and welcoming public realm that establishes a rich quality of life for residents and other community members with well- designed, integrated, connected, and usable public open spaces.

Goal 6:  Environmental Sustainability
Mitigate the impact of new urban development on global climate change by taking action to minimize carbon emissions and to increase climate resiliency during planning, development, construction, and post construction.

Goal 7: Public Facilities, Utilities and Services
Provide for the orderly and efficient extension of public facilities, utilities, and services.

Goal 8:  Comprehensive Plan Consistency
Community plan goals and policies support and comply with the existing Comprehensive Plan. Topic areas not explicitly addressed within the community plan will defer to goals and policies within the Comprehensive Plan 

Documents

Questions and Comments

To ask questions and share comments, please contact:
Dan Rutzick, AICP
Long Range Planning Manager
City of Hillsboro
dan.rutzick@hillsboro-oregon.gov