For Immediate Release: January 20, 2005
Contact: Dan Eisenbeis (503) 497-1000

Develop 332 Acres of Farmland with No Public Process?

Yamhill County has received a Measure 37 demand to develop 332 acres on farmland west of McMinnville and no hearing is required for the demand. The applicant is demanding a waiver of land use regulations for residential and commercial development.

"These demands are creating a wave of unfairness in Oregon's community planning program," said Bob Stacey, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Oregon. "A group of privileged landowners can hurt their neighbors, farmers and nearby communities by gaining immunity from the the laws everyone else has to obey. And in Yamhill County they can do this without even holding a public hearing."

The Yamhill County Measure 37 ordinance adopted by the board of commissioners in December does not provide for a hearing or notice to neighbors. The measure, adopted by voters last November, specifically removes decisions about Measure 37 demands from the normal land use notice and hearing process. Other jurisdictions, such as adjacent Marion and Clackamas Counties, have adopted implementation ordinances that provide for a hearing on Measure 37 demands.

"The citizens of McMinnville and the county must have the right to comment on all Measure 37 demands, including this one," noted Merilyn Reeves, President of Friends of Yamhill County. "A development of this size could erupt into hundreds of new homes and who knows what size and type of commercial development. The cost for all this, including new and larger roads, fire and police protection, will be saddled on city residents and county taxpayers if the county waives all the land use requirements. This kind of claim is proof that Measure 37 can unravel decades of hard work by Yamhill County residents who wanted to keep Yamhill County a great place to live."

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