Welcome
Creating a Comprehensive Plan Update for 2040
Like all cities in Oregon, we must plan for current and future generations. We know that communities that plan for growth have the best chance of managing their destiny in a way that retains the qualities that brought us here in the first place: our small-town character, forests and farms, excellent schools, thriving businesses, parks and public spaces.
Sherwood last updated its Comprehensive Plan in 1990. The Comprehensive Plan is a planning document that directs all activities related to land use and the future of natural and man-made systems and services in Sherwood. The plan helps manage expected population and employment growth through a set of goals, policies and implementation measures that align with the community’s vision. City leaders use the Comprehensive Plan to coordinate public investments and to make decisions about new development, existing neighborhoods, transportation and a variety of other topics. Given Sherwood’s dramatic growth over the past 20 years, the 1990 Comprehensive Plan no longer represents the vision and values of today’s residents and businesses.
Over the next three years, our goal is to explore, balance and prioritize community issues for determining how we grow and continue to provide quality places to live, work and play over the next twenty years. In 2018, we engaged the Sherwood community in creating a vision and goals for the future that will serve as the foundation for updating the Comprehensive Plan. From 2019-2021, we will establish a new Comprehensive Plan policy framework that allows us to realize that vision together.
A rendering of what future Sherwood housing developments could look like.
Our Sherwood Story
Current Events
Thank you for taking the community survey! We had over 50 Sherwood residents share their thoughts. We appreciate your input on the goals and policies for the Sherwood 2040 Strategic and Collaborative Governance theme. Stay tuned for the summary of what we heard.
How we got here
View the Sherwood 2040 Vision website
In the spring of 2018, the City of Sherwood launched the Sherwood 2040 Comprehensive Plan Vision, a city-wide community engagement process that outlines a desired future for the Sherwood community in the year 2040. The City undertook the Visioning Process as one of the initial steps in updating the Comprehensive Plan. The Visioning Process engaged community members to develop a shared understanding of Sherwood today and create a planning process that will address key issues for the future.
Undertaking a visioning process before updating the comprehensive plan was especially important for a community like Sherwood. The city has changed dramatically over the years, yet the community’s vibrancy and small-town character has endured. In 1990, the year of the City’s last Comprehensive Plan Update, Sherwood was home to only 3,000 residents. Today, the City has more than 19,000 residents, reflecting an annual average growth rate of 8%. The city has also doubled in physical size and is witnessing a change in the demographics of its population. Because of the dramatic growth, the last Comprehensive Plan no longer represents the vision and values of the current Sherwood residents and its business community. The Sherwood 2040 Comprehensive Plan Vision was the first step in identifying what makes Sherwood special, envisioning what it will look like tomorrow and creating a new Comprehensive Plan to realize that vision.
The Visioning Process spanned the spring, summer and fall of 2018. It engaged hundreds of community members in conversations about what makes Sherwood unique. In these conversations, community members also envisioned what Sherwood could look like in 2040. With guidance from a Community Advisory Committee and support from City staff and a consultant team, this input helped craft the Sherwood 2040 Comprehensive Plan Vision and Goals.
About the project
Sherwood’s updated Comprehensive Plan and the process to develop it will be organized around six core areas. Each core area is an element of the Vision Statement and includes a set of goals that were developed through the Comprehensive Plan Visioning Process. Each core area covers broad, interconnected topics that are consistent with community priorities identified in the Visioning Process and Oregon’s Statewide Planning Goals.
The scope of a Comprehensive Plan is far-reaching and helps coordinate activities across city departments, regional agencies and state agencies. The Plan establishes a policy framework that helps inform other critical planning documents used by the City to guide growth and development in Sherwood. The Comprehensive Plan is more than just a set of goals and policies. It includes background research, analyses, and area-specific and system plans that provide more information related to particular topics or areas. These components inform the development of and assist in carrying out the policy directives of the Plan. Together, the components of the Comprehensive Plan allow Sherwood to plan for near and long term urban growth and critical public service investment, while preserving the amenities that make Sherwood a great place to live.
By 2040, the Sherwood economy will grow to include a variety of businesses, big and small, that offer stable employment opportunities, higher-wage jobs and will expand the tax base to protect and maintain Sherwood’s quality of life. Sherwood will provide great destinations and experiences for both residents and visitors.
By sharing your input on the Sherwood 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update, you can help guide Sherwood’s vision and goals for a thriving and diversified economy.
By 2040, Sherwood strives to successfully retain its treasured small-town character and strong sense of community while welcoming diverse businesses and residents. Old Town will preserve its historic atmosphere as an attractive place to shop, dine and gather. The library and performing arts center will play vital roles as places of learning and sharing, and art and creativity will be woven into the fabric of the city. A variety of community events will uphold a legacy of bringing the community together and giving Sherwood a sense of place.
By sharing your input on the Sherwood 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update, you can help guide Sherwood’s vision and goals for a strong community, culture, and heritage.
In 2040, Sherwood residents will have well-funded police, fire and emergency response services that keep Sherwood safe. The city has outlined goals to govern in a fiscally responsible and responsive manner that allow for strategic, well-planned growth and the adequate provision of services.
By sharing your input on the Sherwood 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update, you can help guide Sherwood’s vision and goals for a strategic and collaborative government.
By 2040, Sherwood aims to develop a range of housing choices for a diversity of ages and income levels, providing community members the ability to live in Sherwood throughout all stages of life.
By sharing your input on the Sherwood 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update, you can help guide Sherwood’s future housing policy.
In 2040, Sherwood’s city-wide transportation system will be efficient and safe and will provide transportation options. The town will have an active and connected transportation network where residents enjoy walking and bicycle paths between neighborhoods, parks, schools, the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge and Old Town. Sherwood can provide a high-quality life to residents with quality public facilities, services and utilities. Sherwood strives for an excellent school system, an asset that draws families to the community. Sherwood residents of all ages will enjoy the city’s robust park system, community centers and state-of-the-art athletic and recreation facilities.
By sharing your input on the Sherwood 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update, you can help guide Sherwood’s vision and goals for coordinated and connected infrastructure.
In 2040, Sherwood strives to be a leader as a steward of its natural environment. Vegetated corridors will be protected and weave through the city providing habitat, safe passage for wildlife, clean water and air, and a place for people to connect with nature. The city will actively preserve mature trees and natural areas.
By sharing your input on the Sherwood 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update, you can help guide Sherwood’s green future.
Other planning efforts
Sherwood begins this work from a position of strength. The City has been proactive in planning, having undertaken a number of efforts in recent years. Below is a list of the past and ongoing planning efforts.
- The Sherwood West Preliminary Concept Plan
- Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA)
- Housing Needs Analysis (HNA)
- Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update (link coming soon)
Get involved
We need your help!
This is a multi-year process and we need your help to implement the Sherwood 2040 Vision through the Comprehensive Plan Update. There will be many opportunities to participate in the months to come. Below is a schedule of the Comprehensive Plan Process including events for community members to get involved. Details about community events will be announced as they approach.
Your Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is at your service!
The CAC meets every other month and its members act as liaisons to the community. In addition, the CAC is charged with reviewing technical studies, surveys, reports, and providing comments and recommendations to the Sherwood Planning Commission.
CAC Committee Members:
- Jason Wuertz
- Damon Starnes
- Matt Staten
- Susan Claus
- Patricia Distler
- Corey Kearsley
- John Davis
- Melanie Mildenberger
- Thomas Quesenberry
- Paul Mayer
- Tess Kies
- Rachel Schoening
- Megan Thornton
- Jim Fisher
- Angi Ford
- Jean Simson
- Russell Griffin
Project library
Documents and Reports
We will post project documents as they become available. Check back regularly for updates.
Using the Library
The information listings on this page include all materials that will be produced during the Comprehensive Plan Update. As an item becomes available for review, the listing will be made into a link that will let you access the item.
Contact
If you are interested in learning more about the project, please contact Sherwood Planning at (503) 625-2308 or email sherwood2040@sherwoodoregon.gov.
We also invite you to follow the project's Facebook page and sign up for the project email list to receive notices of new information, scheduled meetings and other opportunities. We never share your contact information and will only use it for Comprehensive Plan Vision updates.
You may also share a comment directly using the form below.
Your photos
We love to see photos of your favorite places that make Sherwood special. Upload your photos below, and you might see them posted on this website!
Submission of photos indicates consent for public use.
