Oregonians still have a reverence for Oregon’s
features and future. What they signaled by passing Measure 37 is
that they demand a government that is fair (HCN, 11/22/04: In
Oregon, a lesson learned the hard way).
Part of the
problem is that land planners and environmental activists are never
satisfied. The result is incrementally increasing burdens that
eventually block all use of the land. With overlapping land-use
districts, drainage basin districts, forestry districts, historical
districts, view shed restrictions, special exception requirements,
etc., it’s a wonder anyone knows what is going on. You can
hardly blame people for acting to protect their economic interests
when the government failed to do its primary job of protecting
lives and property.
I hope that Oregon uses this
opportunity to resolve issues that should have been considered up
front. Across the country, jurisdictions have copied Oregon’s
pioneer land-use laws. I hope they adopt this amendment as well,
because a good environment populated with people with hard feelings
can hardly be called a success.
Ray Hyde
Ashby
Glen Farm
Delaplane, Virginia
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Oregon votes for fairness.
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