Hillsboro Airport Use and

Safety and Compatibility Overlay Zoning

Background: 

The 2005 Hillsboro Airport Compatibility Study Update recommended the implementation of several operational and land use measures to ensure and improve the compatibility of the airport with surrounding land uses.  In 2007 the Hillsboro Airport Issues Roundtable (HAIR) created a Land Use Subcommittee tasked with developing two of the recommended land use measures:  an airport use zone and airport safety and compatibility overlay zones.  The mission of the Hillsboro Airport Issues Roundtable Land Use Subcommittee was “to engage in a cooperative and comprehensive analysis of the regulatory land use recommendations in the 2005 Hillsboro Compatibility Study Update. Offer policymakers at the city of Hillsboro and Washington County specific language to be utilized in the implementation of these recommendations.”

The subcommittee worked for over 18 months with private entities and the public to complete the draft language for an Airport Use Zone (AUZ) and Airport Safety and Compatibility Overlay Zones (ASCO Zones).  In January 2009 the HAIR committee provided their recommendation to City of Hillsboro and Washington County policymakers for consideration of the two new zones. 

In April the Port of Portland and the City of Hillsboro held an Open House on the proposed new zones, and the Hillsboro Planning Commission held public hearings in May and June.  In July the Planning Commission revised the zones to reflect public testimony and recommended approval to the City Council.  The Council approved the new zones in early October, with approval of Ordinances No. 5925 and 5926.

In mid-October the Planning Commission initiated a zone change (File No. ZC 7-09) to apply the new AU Airport Use zone to the airport properties and to apply the new ACSO Airport Safety and Compatibility Overlay zones to properties inside the city and surrounding the airport. 

The new AUZ zone will be applied only on airport properties, and will allow specific airport-dependent, airport-related and airport-compatible uses to occur at the airport.  The AUZ zone will regulate airport and airport-related industrial, commercial, and other uses within the scope of the Hillsboro Airport Master Plan.  The new ASCO zones will be broader both in scope and geographically, extending approximately 6,000 feet beyond the airport properties.  These overlay zones will address land use compatibility issues related to impacts of future development from and on airport operations.  The new overlay zones will not affect existing zoning.  These zones are oriented toward new development, and will have little or no impact on existing homes or businesses.

Timeline:

Following adoption of the new AU zone and the six new ASCO zones by the City Council in October, the Planning Zoning hearings Board will hold two public hearings in November as follows: 

• November 4th – Hearings Board public hearing on properties generally northwest and northeast of the airport
• November 18th – Hearings Board public hearing on properties generally southwest and southeast of the airport

The Hearings Board adopted Order No. 4010 recommending City Council approval of the zone change. The City Council will consider an Ordinance to approve the zone change on January 5, 2010. Click here to view the Notice of Decision and Order.

When the Council approves the zone change the Zoning Map will be amended to change the zoning on the airport properties to AU and to add new ASCO overlay zones to the existing zoning on properties surrounding the airport.

Contact Information:

Debbie Raber, Planning Project Manager                          Phone:  (503) 681-6155

Hillsboro Planning Department                                             FAX:     (503) 681-6245

150 East Main Street, 4th Floor                                            Send an E-Mail
Hillsboro, Oregon 97123