Statewide Planning Goal 15 is focused on conserving the natural, scenic, historical, agricultural, economic, and recreational qualities of the land along the Willamette River. The Willamette River Greenway is a corridor of water and land in which development is planned and built with recognition of the unique qualities of the Willamette River. Goal 15 applies to cities and counties along the river; it requires cities and counties to adopt local greenway plans within their comprehensive plans. Local greenway plans should include criteria for new development, new uses, and the increase of existing uses along the river. Goal 15 also calls for local plans to identify parcels of land that might be acquired to increase the amount of park land near the river. In the early days of the Greenway, the state provided funding for such acquisitions. This funding, however, was not maintained. Today, Goal 15 is largely implemented through local comprehensive plans and codes.
State Greenway Boundary
The State Greenway Boundary was established with input from Oregon State Parks (which at that time was part of the Department of Transportation), DLCD, and local governments. The state adopted the boundary in the 1980's. Since then, only a few small changes have been made to the boundary. City and county comprehensive plans provide detailed maps of both the land and water within the boundary. Any proposed change in the boundary must be reviewed by the Land Conservation and Development Commission and approved by Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation. Changes to zoning designations within the boundary must be consistent with Goal 15.
Local Greenway Plans and Compatibility Review
Much of the current implementation of Goal 15 rests with cities and counties along the Willamette River. Each jurisdiction has a greenway section within their comprehensive plan, and local development code standards, which implement their greenway plan. For the most part, cities and counties implement their greenway plans and codes without DLCD involvement; however, local governments must submit any proposed amendments to local policies and codes within the greenway to DLCD for review.
Local greenway compatibility review is the most common action taken to implement Goal 15 anywhere within the State Greenway Boundary. New development, new uses along the river, and the increase of a use must follow standards designed to maintain physical and visual access to the river, preserve habitat and vegetation near the river, and direct development away from the river. Directing development away from the river does not mean development is prohibited — it means that the site design needs to provide open space and greenway access as appropriate. Local codes also have standards to preserve the visual experience of people enjoying recreational activities on the river and a specified structural setback distance to preserve access to the river's bank from the water.
History of the Willamette River Greenway
Goal 15 was established under Governor Bob Straub. The goal firmly established the Greenway Program and required counties and cities to develop and implement rules for how riverside land could be developed. In aggregate, local plans and inventories are combined to create the state plan. The intent of the Goal was to lay the groundwork for a long-term effort to increase public access and enjoyment of the river. The outcomes of this vision can be seen in the existing network of state parks and in local plans that prioritize the acquisition of land and easements along the river to extend and connect bike and pedestrian paths. For people who experience the river by boat, Goal 15 standards for keeping structures away from the river preserve access to the river’s banks.
Original Adoption: 12/6/75; Effective: 12/24/75
Amended: 12/4/80; Effective: 12/17/80
Amended: 2/17/88; Effective: 3/31/88
Amended: 3/21/08; Effective: 4/18/08
Read full text version of Goal 15
Administrative Rules that implement Goal 15:
660-020 – Willamette River Greenway Plan