Multnomah County, in planning to more closely study its unincorporated lands, has named 19 citizens to a panel that will study land use issues.

The county has appointed the 19 volunteer members to a committee that will advise decision makers as the county, over the next 18 months, explores how unincorporated lands will take shape. The group will explore whether it should designate some land as urban reserves and others as rural reserves.

The Multnomah County Urban and Rural Reserves Citizens' Advisory Committee will study such issues as farming, conservation, home building, real estate, neighborhood and property owners' associations, planning and transportation.

The group's first meeting will take place May 1.

"I think they will do an excellent job of representing diverse interests in Multnomah County and that will help us create good policies for the future, said County Commissioner Jeff Cogen, Multnomah County's representative in the regional planning effort.

The county believes creating such land reserves will provide greater predictability about expanding the urban growth boundary over the next 50 years. The tactic could also protect some farmland, forestland and natural areas from urbanization.

Metro representatives will work with the county on the land use plan.

The county's committee members include Patricia Anderson, Peter Finley Fry, Greg Hockert, Mads Ledet, David Persons, Joe Turner, Zelijka Carol Kekez, James Thayer, Laura Masterson, Katie Pearmine, Dale Burger, Kria Lacher, David Treadwell, Carol Chesarek, Lora Creswick, George Sowder, Josh Townsley and Robert Wiley.