In 1983 Metro, a directly elected regional government that serves more than 1.3 million residents in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area, approved the inclusion of West Hayden Island into the Urban Growth Boundary for marine industrial purpose. Recognizing the need for Portland's marine facilities to meet forecasted trade growth, the Port Commission in 1993 directed Port management to acquire West Hayden Island. The transaction was completed in 1994. The 825-acre site is adjacent to the Columbia River navigation channel, in close proximity to the main lines of both the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads and the interstate highway system, making it ideal for deep-draft marine cargo facilities.

In April 1997, the Port Commission approved a development program for West Hayden Island to ensure that the region's needs for future marine cargo facilities would be met. The development program included plans for future marine facilities including grain, automobile and container facilities.

In December 2000, the Port Commission postponed permitting and development planning work for future marine development on West Hayden Island. The Port has retained the property in marine strategic reserve status.

2000 - Present. The Port has been working with Metro, the Port of Vancouver USA and others to analyze cargo growth and the regional supply of marine industrial property. Reports indicate that trade volumes will double over the course of the next 20 years and that the supply of development ready marine industrial land is inadequate to meet the demand. Working through an intergovernmental agreement with the Port of Vancouver USA, the Port will continue to assess the region's long-term maritime needs.

Since completion of the Port's Marine Terminal Master Plan in 2002, the Port has worked to ensure that existing facilities are used to their full capacity and potential. As part of this plan a new Toyota facility, built to the Leadership in Energy Efficient Design gold standard has been developed at Terminal 4; additional rail facilities and infrastructure have been built at Terminal 5 that has doubled capacity there. The Port is also set to issue a request for proposals for green energy production at Terminal 4.

Several regional long-term planning initiatives have recently begun which must take the future of West Hayden Island into consideration. These include: the Columbia River Crossing Project, the City’s East Hayden Island planning effort, Metro’s 2009 urban growth boundary expansion discussions and the City of Portland Comprehensive Plan update.

Currently, the Port of Portland and the City of Portland are beginning work to design a collaborative public process to annex and create a long-range land use plan for West Hayden Island. This process would include environmental, community and regional representation. Finalizing the approach with the stakeholders and initiating the planning process is expected to begin in early 2008.