Can population growth be controlled?
Another major disagreement revolves around whether population growth can be controlled or influenced by the community. Some respondents feel that population growth is inevitable and the wisest response is to plan adequately for anticipated growth. Others strongly believe that population growth can be controlled and even prevented with the right set of policies, incentives and other tools. These respondents see planning for growth as tantamount to encouraging it and advocate instead for policies that discourage newcomers from moving to Portland. Should density be encouraged or discouraged? Those who advocate planning for growth feel that density should be encouraged as a way to preserve greenspace, views and housing affordability as additional people move to Portland. These Portlanders strongly support the Urban Growth Boundary and view density as a key tool in the smart growth toolbox. Many of those who oppose growth also oppose increasing density in the urban core. These respondents f
