Oregon's Measure 37 Upheld

This may not mean much to those outside of Oregon, but it is important to us here - on both sides of the argument. Oregon passed Measure 37 which requires governments to recompense property owners "losses" due to land use regulations. I was firmly against Measure 37 because it effectively blocks any attempt at protecting environments and communities. For example, if an property owner has been "deprived" of turning his/her property into an industrial site because it sits on a wetland, then the local government would have to compensate that owner for his/her loss, or grant approval for the development project. Given that local governments (or any government for that matter) doesn't have the funds to compensate these landowners, then it is a green light for development of all sorts. Oregon has had just about the strictest land use regulation in the country. It has kept Oregon Oregon. Now, that is effectively history and the developers - not private property owners - will take the money to the bank, and our environment to the cleaners.

Oregon Supreme Court upholds state's property rights law