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For
Immediate Release:
Contact: |
November 8, 2006
Eric Stachon, 503.497.1000, (cell) 503.758.5209 |
Oregon's Neighbors Say "NO!" to Measure 37-Style Initiatives
Voters in Washington, California and Idaho soundly rejected Measure 37 copycat measures in Tuesday’s elections. The pro-planning clean sweep by Oregon’s neighbors was a major defeat for so-called ‘property rights’ activists and came after measure opponents in those states publicized stories of Oregonians threatened by poorly-planned development due to Measure 37.
"Voters in neighboring states looked at what’s happening with Measure 37 in Oregon and concluded that they didn’t want this mess in their states,” said Bob Stacey, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Oregon. “Oregonians were once the role model for land use planning and protection of our natural resources. Now, with Measure 37, we’re quickly becoming the poster child for subdivisions in scenic areas we once protected, loss of farm and forest land, costly sprawl and loss of our quality of life.”
Under Measure 37, local governments must pay property owners or waive land use regulations when zoning causes a reduction in property value. To date, almost 3500 claims have been filed, affecting 230,000 acres of land, most of it rural farm or forest land. State and local governments have often refused to even determine whether the claimants’ property have actually lost value. Instead of measuring out compensation for actual loss—either through cash payments or compensatory development permits to make up any difference in value—cities, counties and the state's land use planning agency are waiving land use regulations wholesale, essentially letting property owners build anything they want.
1000 Friends of Oregon has heard from concerned residents across the state, many of whom are neighbors of massive proposed Measure 37 developments. 1000 Friends, in collaboration with the Seattle-based Sightline Institute, shared their stories in print and video with the campaigns in other states.
Oregon residents have strong concerns about Measure 37 claims going too far as the consequences of the measure become known,according to a poll commissioned by Defenders of Wildlife and the Izaak Walton League of America.
Read Sightline’s written report.
Watch 1000 Friends of Oregon’s videos.
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