Three Hillsboro residents urged the Washington County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, July 28, to halt the Century Boulevard Extension, a county road project that would bring an estimated 8,600 vehicles per day past Noble Woods Park.

Leif Eccles, Talon Bevan, and Pam Code each spoke during the public comment period opposing the three-lane road segment between Main Street and Lois Street. Additional written testimony from residents was included in the meeting packet.

"This road would bring 8,600 cars a day through the middle of a sensitive natural area next to Noble Woods Park," one resident wrote in testimony submitted to the board. "The additional traffic will be noisy, dangerous, and not conducive to the peaceful atmosphere of this park."

The project has been in Hillsboro's Transportation System Plan since 1999 and is funded through the county's Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP 3e). It would include a bridge over Rock Creek and remove approximately 47 trees. Construction had been scheduled to begin in spring 2026, though its current status is unclear. The board took no vote on the project at this meeting.

THPRD annexation approved

In the meeting's only public hearing, the board voted 5-0 to annex approximately 12.3 acres to the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District. The parcels include two full tax lots and portions of six others, plus right-of-way. Commissioner Nafisa Fai moved and Commissioner Pam Treece seconded.

No public testimony was offered.

Carol Johnson and Tricia Guarisco of the county's Land Use & Transportation department presented the item.

The board approved all seven consent items 5-0, with Commissioner Jason Snider moving and Commissioner Treece seconding. Among them:

  • $2 million in gap funding for the Hillsboro Access Center, a new homeless shelter under construction by Project Homeless Connect, drawn from one-time Supportive Housing Services funds. The Access Center is separate from the existing 75-bed Hillsboro Shelter that opened in December 2025 near Dairy Creek Park.
  • A new five-year lease for Pacific University's rowing program at Hagg Lake, effective August 1. The university operates a 3,750-square-foot pole barn and boat dock at the C-Ramp Recreation Area on county-managed property. Rent is $5,000 per year for the first two years, rising to $7,500 for the final three, generating $32,500 total for the county.
  • Authorization for County Counsel to file an ordinance amending the Public Land Corner fee.

ACRE charter updated

The board also voted 5-0 to approve revised charter and bylaws for the Advisory Council on Racial Equity, a 15-member body that advises commissioners on equity in the county's budget, strategic plan, and policies. Alicia Sojourner, director of Access and Opportunity, and ACRE Co-chair Barry Johnson-Smith presented the item. All five commissioners commented.

Data center testimony

Hillsboro resident Jennifer Hagen of NE Olympic Street submitted written testimony to Commissioner Fai's office on July 26 opposing data centers and battery energy storage facilities in the community, citing "back door under handed dealing" and a "cloak of secrecy" around the projects.

Tuesday's meeting, held at the Charles D. Cameron Public Services Building at 155 N. First Ave. in Hillsboro, lasted 47 minutes. All five commissioners were present: Chair Kathryn Harrington, Fai, Treece, Snider, and Jerry Willey. Residents can submit written testimony to the board clerk or attend meetings in person; agendas and public comment instructions are posted on the county's CivicWeb portal.