Oregon Cities Prepare For Planning Backlash

Oregon cities gear up to fight Measure 37, a voter-passed property rights law. Is this a response to overly restrictive planning, or property rights run amok?

1 minute read

December 1, 2004, 7:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"Cities and counties putting the measure in place say strict standards will protect them from lawsuits and financial disaster. But proponents of the measure, which promises relief when planning decisions hurt land value, say local governments are undermining voters' intent.

This contentious start means Oregon's latest land-use experiment will wind up in court, where it probably will be decided piecemeal over at least the next year.

...[T]he measure offers an out for landowners who don't like their government's application process: Ignore it. Instead, they can file a claim with a letter describing their situation, then take the case to court if the city, county or state doesn't respond within 180 days."

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: Oregon Cities Mount Defenses Against Voter-Passed Property Rights Law

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 in The Oregonian

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