The Yay of the Land

Oregon voters roll back destructive property-rights legislation

Posted at 9:47 AM on 07 Nov 2007

Sheepish Oregon voters have approved Measure 49, which significantly scales back development rights under the state's Measure 37. When voters passed Measure 37 three years ago, it was the farthest-reaching legislation in the U.S. in terms of protecting individual property rights, requiring Oregon to compensate landowners for property-value changes brought on by state land-use decisions. Under the law, property owners filed 7,500 claims to develop some 750,000 acres of farms and forests, wishing to build everything from single homes to shopping malls to gravel mines. "People stood back and watched it for three years and said this isn't what we voted for," says Gov. Ted Kulongoski. During the reign of Measure 37, copycat measures in five other states were shot down. Glad you've decided to join the sane, Oregon.

sources:  The Oregonian, Associated Press