"Smart Growth" News - Oct. 2002 (Find your State/City)

SmartGrowth.org ^ | Nov. 1, 2002 | Smarth Growth Network

[madfly]

Find your city here at the SmartGrowth.org latest news page

Land-Value Loss Compensation a Hot Issue in Oregon Gubernatorial Campaign

Although the Oregon Supreme Court barred a move to compensate owners for land-value losses incurred under Oregon land-use laws -- invalidating Measure 7, passed by voters in 2000, as using one amendment for multiple constitutional changes -- the compensation remains a potent issue in the state gubernatorial campaign, with Republican Kevin Mannix willing to send the measure's ''technically correct'' version back to voters, Democrat Ted Kulongoski arguing for a legislative solution and Libertarian Tom Cox proposing to study the effectiveness of land-use laws in preserving farmland and curbing sprawl. Endorsed by the Oregon Farm Bureau, Republican Mannix, a Democrat until 1999, worries that too narrow an interpretation of land-use laws by state agencies may prevent some advisable and community-supported projects in such fast-growing areas as Washington County, saying the legislature should consider them on a case-by-case basis.

Backed by environmental groups, Democrat Kulongoski pledges an educational campaign on the value of the state's 30-year-old land-use laws, pointing out that many Oregonians, including newcomers, have ''no memory of why we did it.'' Libertarian Cox sees the need to take a ''sober look at all the side effects of our land-use planning laws,'' suspecting Portland's growth boundary for causing home cost increases and affordable housing shortages. Otherwise, reports Oregonian writer R. Gregory Nokes, the candidates gloss over the environment, which respondents in a recent poll ranked eighth among their concerns. Oregon League of Conservation Voters Jonathan Poisner considers it understandable in the context of everything ''going on in the world,'' but also unfortunate.

''The governor has a tremendous impact on Oregon's environment,'' he says. ''It's very important to have a governor committed to the basic safeguards to make Oregon a great place to live.'' --
The Oregonian 10/21/2002

Resource(s): www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/

[185JHP]

Tks!

[Washington_minuteman]

Madfly, it's a shame your article generated so few posts. This issue is one of the keys to the preservation of the Republic, but it's not appearing on most people's radar.

I suppose they are all too busy being distracted by the globalists with the sniper nonsense, Iraq, and the latest market rollercoaster ride.

Something I haven't seen posted either is yesterday's attempt by CNN to Link the Michigan Militia to al-Qaeda Training Camps in South America. It sure has become a strange world since Mr. neo-Conservative became the President.

4/19!
minuteman