If you really mean that, then you're in for a shock. Because once the land is opened up, you're not going to get guys coming in with $1 million or $2 million seeking to build a couple of self-storage units and a fast food franchise sitting in a mini mall parking lot. What you will get is bankrolls of $30 or $40 million and up, along with some very good lawyers, engineers and consultants. And no matter how well-intentioned the local governments or citizens, it is virtually impossible to halt growth that has enough money behind it.
Yes, I really do believe it and you're the one in for a shock. I believe this because I have read what the environmentalists have written. They desire to establish a 'green belt' around all major metropolitean areas and prohibit any form of development outside these areas confining the population to a small percentage of the land area. It's called "smart growth".
It appears that you've been mislead by their propaganda about preserving the rural areas from shopping malls, etc. Do some independent research and find out what their real objectives are. This is not about regulating growth, it is about prohibing all growth outside the urban areas.
Here's a good place to start your research.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1295224/posts
Well, Wally World (Wal mart) wasn't able to put a store in Hillsboro. The only Wally World I know of in Portland is near Clackamas (Eastgate?).