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 Given Sherwood’s dramatic growth over the past 20 years, the 1990 Comprehensive Plan no longer represents the vision and values of today’s residents and businesses.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.

Image of newly constructed single family homes in a residential square block. The houses are surrounded by apartments, roads, bike and pedestrian facilities and green spaces.

A rendering of what future Sherwood housing developments could look like.

Our Sherwood Story

Current Events

Take the community survey: Share your input on goals and policies for the Sherwood2040 Strategic and Collaborative Governance theme! The survey will be live through Monday, April 13th.

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.

Final Vision Document

City representative talking to three children at a City of Sherwood booth at the 2018 Robinhood Festival. The booth generated community input for the Sherwood 2040 vision.
Representatives from the City of Sherwood attending the Robin Hood Festival to get input from community members on the Sherwood 2040 Vision.
Person standing at the Sherwood 2040 booth at the Sherwood Robin Hood Festival in July 2018. The booth generated community input from residents about Sherwood 2040.
A community member providing input on the Sherwood 2040 Vision during the annual Robin Hood Festival.

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.

An image of three children walking along a trail in a park. Three more people are walking a few yards ahead of them.
Residents enjoying the walking paths in one of Sherwood’s many natural areas.

An intel campus in Hillsboro features parking, green space and large office buildings.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.

Hundreds of volunteers gather with shovels at Sherwood's Woodhaven park to plant native trees and shrubs.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.

Six Sherwood residents gather around a table at town hall in October 2018 to share their input on the 2040 vision.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.

a finger pointing to a section of a residential neighborhood overview map. The finger is on Elswert road, just south of Scholls-Sherwood Road at a cul-de-sac. There is a note laid on the map that say ‘100 Acres’.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.

Image of a family on a park trail. One parent is teaching the children to use a camera while the other parent watches on from behind.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.

Get involved

Take the Survey!

As part of the community-wide 2040 Vision, the Sherwood community developed vision and goal statements for strategic and collaborative governance as part of Sherwood’s future. The community developed four goals for governance and growth management and four goals for community health and safety. Through the third theme of the comprehensive plan process, the City has conducted outreach at local events and community committees to help develop policies to reach these goals. Please provide your thoughts on these policies through the online survey below. The survey will be live through Monday, April 13th. As a valuable member of Sherwood’s community, your feedback is important!

The City of Sherwood is currently in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan has six theme areas. We are working on Theme 3: ​​​​​Strategic and Collaborative Governance.

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Sherwood 2040 Comprehensive Plan: Strategic and Collaborative Governance

Sherwood2040 Strategic and Collaborative Governance Survey

Governance and Growth Management
Goal 1: Coordinate with adjacent jurisdictions, local service providers and regional and state governmental agencies to manage growth and development in Sherwood.
1. The following policies relate to Goal 1. Please share how important you think each policy is for the City of Sherwood's future.
Space Cell Don't know / prefer not to respondVery unimportantSomewhat unimportantNeutralSomewhat importantVery important
Policy 1.1: Maintain a Comprehensive Plan and associated implementation tools consistent with the Metro Urban Growth Management Functional Plan, Regional Framework Plan, and Regional Transportation Plan; the Oregon Statewide Planning Goals; and all other applicable state and federal regulations.
Policy 1.2: Ensure that land use and plan administration procedures are compatible with the goals and policies in the Comprehensive Plan, consider relevant agreements with and plans by other local jurisdictions, and comply with regional, state, and federal plans and regulations.
Policy 1.3: Routinely verify whether the City’s supply of developable land is sufficient to meet short- and long-term employment and housing needs and coordinate with Metro and Washington County to request additional lands for urbanization when Sherwood’s growth areas will not accommodate the 20- year projected demand for employment and/or housing.
Policy 1.4: Establish and periodically update urban service, urban planning, and other formal intergovernmental agreements as needed to support urbanization, annexation, and urban service provision.
Goal 2: Provide timely, efficient and fiscally responsible delivery of public facilities and services to balance the development of complete neighborhoods, employment areas, schools and public spaces.
3. The following policies relate to Goal 2. Please share how important you think each policy is for the City of Sherwood's future.
Space Cell Don't know / prefer not to respondVery unimportantSomewhat unimportantNeutralSomewhat importantVery important
Policy 2.1: Coordinate the extension of public facilities, utilities, and services and prioritization of capital expenditures with Washington County, other public agencies, and special districts.
Policy 2.2: Adopt updates to system plans, as required by state law or necessary to address changing community needs and incorporate these plans by reference in the Comprehensive Plan.
Goal 3: Ensure that the rate, amount, type, location and cost of new development will preserve and enhance Sherwood’s quality of life.
 
5. The following policies relate to Goal 3. Please share how important you think each policy is for the City of Sherwood's future.
Space Cell Don't know / prefer not to respondVery unimportantSomewhat unimportantNeutralSomewhat importantVery important
Policy 3.1: Maintain a Comprehensive Plan developed with guidance from the community-wide vision so that the consistent implementing tools further the aspirations of the Plan and, subsequently, the vision in day-to-day land use decisions and actions.
Policy 3.2: Designate land uses in a manner that accommodates projected population and employment growth and ensure development is consistent and compatible with the community’s needs and resources.
Policy 3.3: Provide for compatible, phased and orderly transition from rural to suburban or urban uses on adjacent land outside Sherwood city limits or the Metro Urban Growth Boundary.
Policy 3.4: Ensure annexation to the City occurs in an orderly and coordinated manner, and services are provided to support urban growth consistent with the 2040 Vision. Consider proposals to annex to the City which meet the following criteria:
  • The subject property must be located within the Metro Urban Growth Boundary.
  • The subject property must be contiguous to the existing City limits or separated from it only by a public right of way.
  • Right-of-way that is not within City limits may be annexed for road reconstruction or modification or for the placement of utilities.
  • The proposed use for the site complies with the Sherwood Comprehensive Plan and with the designation(s) thereon. If a re-designation of the plan map is requested after an annexation is finalized, the uses allowed under the proposed designation must comply with the Comprehensive Plan.
  • An adequate level of urban services and infrastructure are available or can be extended in a cost effective and efficient manner to the City.
  • The proposed annexation represents a logical direction for City expansion, promotes an orderly, reasonable and economically feasible expansion of the City boundaries and, in the judgement of the City, serves the present and future interests of the City.
  • Improvements for needed infrastructure may be secured by a funding mechanism that will place the primary economic burden on the territory proposed for annexation and not on the City of Sherwood generally.
Policy 3.5: Require larger urban growth boundary (UGB) expansion areas to complete concept plans that conform to local, regional and state requirements and include a phased development plan to achieve a sustainable transition over time. Concept plans shall strive to balance the needs of existing and new residents and businesses to ensure a sustainable tax base to deliver services. A variety of housing and employment uses shall be considered for each concept plan as an opportunity to provide walkable neighborhood services and efficient transportation alternatives.
Goal 4: Provide open and transparent governance by assuring information is available and disseminated through a variety of methods that is accessible to people of diverse ages, abilities and backgrounds.
 
7. The following policies relate to Goal 4. Please share how important you think each policy is for the City of Sherwood's future.
Space Cell Don't know / prefer not to respondVery unimportantSomewhat unimportantNeutralSomewhat importantVery important
Policy 4.1: Ensure that the Comprehensive Plan empowers community members to act as informed participants in the land use planning process by describing how the Plan and implementation tools work together.
Policy 4.2: Provide a technical foundation that documents and evaluates existing conditions related to social, economic, energy, and environmental needs in order to inform and refine policy recommendations and act as a foundation for future updates to the Comprehensive Plan.
Policy 4.3: Codify a set of review procedures and approval criteria for land use decisions that comply with state and federal law and ensure these actions implement the Comprehensive Plan in a way that:
  • makes the review process clear and understandable for applicants,
  • enables the public to effectively participate in the local decision-making process, and
  • facilitates timely review of land use applications by the City.
Policy 4.4: Coordinate with the acting Citizen Involvement Committee to develop and approve a Public Communications and Engagement Plan for all legislative Comprehensive Plan amendments that considers public notice and involvement processes as appropriate to the scale and type of the proposed action.
 
Policy 4.5: Ensure availability of information to build awareness about development and natural hazards measures to the public in a variety of formats, media, and languages, focusing especially on actionable items such as earthquake retrofitting and stocking emergency supplies.
Community Health and Safety
Goal 1: Ensure a high level of public safety by providing well-funded and well-planned police and fire protection, and emergency services and preparedness to existing and new development in Sherwood.
 
9. The following policies relate to Goal 1. Please share how important you think each policy is for the City of Sherwood's future.
Space Cell Don't know / prefer not to respondVery unimportantSomewhat unimportantNeutralSomewhat importantVery important
Policy 1.1: Build and maintain a citywide emergency and hazard response strategy based on existing plans and close coordination with public and private sector partners.
Policy 1.2: Maintain police, fire, medical, and other public safety services at levels of service appropriate for the City’s population and activities.
Policy 1.3: Evaluate additional police and fire demand resulting from new development, redevelopment, or infill development.
Policy 1.4: Support coordination of public facility and service planning between City departments and local and regional partners to improve efficiency and service delivery.
Goal 2: Maintain and improve the quality of the air, water and land resources.
 
11. The following policies relate to Goal 2. Please share how important you think each policy is for the City of Sherwood's future.
Space Cell Don't know / prefer not to respondVery unimportantSomewhat unimportantNeutralSomewhat importantVery important
Policy 2.1: Support the preservation and maintenance of natural resources to mitigate the impact of natural hazards.
Goal 3: Encourage land use patterns that locate land use activities in close proximity, reduce or shorten vehicle trips and encourage energy conservation through sustainable site planning, landscaping and construction practices.
 
13. The following policies relate to Goal 3. Please share how important you think each policy is for the City of Sherwood's future.
Space Cell Don't know / prefer not to respondVery unimportantSomewhat unimportantNeutralSomewhat importantVery important
Policy 3.1: Encourage habitat-friendly development practices for developments with Regionally Significant Fish and Wildlife Habitats.
Policy 3.2: Build capacity for greater urban resilience and redundancy in infrastructure and essential public facilities.
Policy 3.3: Address public safety in development and redevelopment through building and site design, including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles.
Policy 3.4: Promote compact mixed-use areas, innovative design, and limited neighborhood-serving commercial uses compatible within existing residential neighborhoods to reduce transportation demand.
Policy 3.5: Advance resource efficiency in buildings through the integration of energy-conserving features and innovative construction methods in new development, redevelopment and retrofit.
Policy 3.6: Advance adaptive reuse when designing buildings and sites to respond to changing economic, environmental, and energy needs and conditions while remaining compatible with adjacent development and uses.
Goal 4: Minimize impacts and risk to life and property from natural hazards and disasters.
 
15. The following policies relate to Goal 4. Please share how important you think each policy is for the City of Sherwood's future.
Space Cell Don't know / prefer not to respondVery unimportantSomewhat unimportantNeutralSomewhat importantVery important
Policy 4.1: Ensure regular updates to spatial, economic and demographic data used by the City to support hazard planning and response in conjunction with federal, state, and local efforts.
Policy 4.2: Prohibit development on floodplain in order to reduce the risk of flooding, prevent or reduce risk of human life and property, and maintain functions and values of floodplains such as allowing for the storage and conveyance of stream flows through existing and natural flood conveyance systems.
Policy 4.3: Provide drainage facilities and regulate development in areas of runoff or erosion hazard.
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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.

Timeline graphic for the Sherwood 2040 comprehensive plan process. The public input process runs from May 2019-December 2020 with 6 themes. Each theme is active for a 6-month period and has a community event followed by an online survey.

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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

DateDocument
January 2019 Sherwood 2040 Comprehensive Plan Vision and Goals
April 19, 2019 Thriving and Diversified Economy: Background Report
April 19, 2019 Thriving and Diversified Economy: Profile
April 19, 2019 CAC Meeting Agenda #1
May 8, 2019 CAC Meeting Summary #1
June 10, 2019 Final Public Involvement Plan
June 10, 2019 Thriving and Diversified Economy: Infographic
July 18, 2019 CAC Meeting Agenda #2
July 19, 2019 Strong Community, Culture, and Heritage: Profile
August 28, 2019 Strong Community, Culture, and Heritage: Background Report
August 28, 2019 CAC Meeting Agenda #3
November 6, 2019 CAC Meeting Agenda #4
November 15, 2019 Thriving and Diversified Economy: Survey Summary
November 15, 2019 Strong Community, Culture, and Heritage: Survey Summary
December 3, 2019 CAC Meeting Summary #4
February 12, 2020 CAC Meeting Agenda #5
February 12, 2020 Strategic and Collaborative Governance: Background Report
February 12, 2020 Strategic and Collaborative Governance: Profile

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.

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Image of children running together behind a soccer field while bystanders watch a soccer game.