Measure 37 Mega-Mall Approved on Polk County Farmland

Measure 37 claims are scarring Oregon's landscape. Last week the Polk County Board of Commissioners approved a Measure 37 demand for one million square feet of commercial space, about the size of Washington Square, and 17 homes on 77 acres of farm and forest land. A one million square foot shopping center will generate about 30,000 to 40,000 automobile trips per day. Neighbors were not told when the board would consider the Measure 37 demand. There are about a dozen pending claims for other large developments in Polk County.

"This is every farmer's nightmare," said Penny Cox, whose family farm is near the proposed shopping center, "Our lifetime investment can be wiped out overnight. Measure 37's backers never told us it would lead to this kind of unplanned mega-development."

The demand filed by Cory and Julia Seibert is for 77 acres on a two-lane rural state highway a few miles south of Dallas. "The demand approved by the county means clogged roads, destruction of farmland, and reduced property values. The water system is already overtaxed. My home will be worth less money at the same time my quality of life will suffer," said Allison Hamilton, a local resident. "We chose to live in this part of Polk County because we liked the area and were told that basic zoning rules would protect us from this kind of wild get-rich scheme. Waivers are hurting us. We need our leaders in Salem to stop the waivers and fund fair compensation."

Polk County taxpayers will have to pick up the costs the development will impose on the community. These costs include new roads or turn lanes, added fire, police and water. As a result, Polk County taxpayers will end up with higher taxes that subsidize the development.

"Measure 37 is creating a new wave of unfairness across Oregon," noted Bob Stacey, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Oregon, "Oregonians voted for fairness, not special exemptions for a new privileged class. Measure 37 is making life worse for working Oregonians. It does not have to be that way."

The legislature is considering legislation dealing with Measure 37. In a hearing last week, landowners, farmers and ranchers told Senate Environment and Land Use Committee members that voters wanted compensation, noting that the first three words of the Measure 37 ballot title were "Government must pay." 1000 Friends of Oregon supports funding compensation by recovering a small portion of the future windfall profits made as land is brought into urban growth boundaries and developed.

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