Scouters Mountain Planned Unit Development

Scouters Mountain is a 223-acre master-planned residential community in Happy Valley, Oregon, thoughtfully designed to integrate housing with preserved natural landscapes, recreational amenities, and strong community connectivity. The project takes its name from the former Boy Scouts of America Scouters Mountain Camp, which, along with several adjacent properties, forms the overall site. The community provides 600 single-family homesites alongside extensive open space, pedestrian pathways, a 2,500-square-foot community center, and a 4-acre neighborhood park with interconnected pedestrian connections to Metro’s regional trail system. Development will progress through six construction phases, beginning in 2017 and scheduled for completion in 2027.

Working closely with Holt Homes, our team supported the project across land use planning, engineering, surveying, natural resources, and landscape architecture disciplines, helping balance needed residential housing with long-term open space preservation and public recreation access.

As Happy Valley continued to grow, there was a need for new housing while preserving the area’s significant natural resources, including wetlands, tributaries to Rock Creek, forested habitats, and wildlife corridors. The challenge was to create a large-scale residential community in complicated terrain that could meet housing demand while preserving land for resource protection.

Our multidisciplinary team worked collaboratively with Holt Homes and City of Happy Valley staff and officials to create a residential community that integrates housing, parks, and public infrastructure within steep and challenging terrain while prioritizing resource preservation. Our natural resource professionals were among the first to work on the project, mapping out existing wetlands, tributaries, and high-value habitats. More than 90 acres are dedicated to habitat preservation and protection. Additionally, our team voluntarily enhanced degraded areas by removing invasive vegetation, including primarily Himalayan blackberry, and replacing it with native plant species selected for their ability to provide wildlife forage and cover.

Our team also supported infrastructure design, pedestrian bridge crossings, and neighborhood access improvements, ensuring safe circulation while preserving the site’s natural character.

Scouters Mountain successfully delivers a large-scale residential community that is deeply integrated within the surrounding natural areas. Scouters Mountain stands as a model for balancing growth with conservation by creating a livable neighborhood that strengthens regional trail connectivity, preserves natural resources through significant dedication of open space, and provides long-term recreational value for residents and the broader community.