Damascus and Measure 37
March 12th, 2008
Sigh:
Voters in Damascus on Tuesday approved three government-limiting measures, including a local version of Measure 37, the statewide property rights law that Oregon voters reeled back in December.
[…]
The Damascus property measure requires the city to compensate landowners when city land-use regulations enacted after Jan. 1, 2006, harm property values. It passed with a 67 percent yes vote.
Interpretations differ on how the measure would play out. The city says it could have to pay landowners. Dan Phegley, a Damascus resident and chief petitioner for the initiative, has said the city could waive regulations.
At least this isn’t retroactive. Then again, Damascus probably had pretty much no land use regulations of note pre-2006.
Related posts: Lewis and Clark and Measure 49, Measure 37 is dead. DRIP., Liz Kaufman and the battle against Measure 37



2 Comments Add your own
1. cameron mulder | March 12th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I thought that Damascus would be an interesting place, but by the sounds of it i will not be even thinking about moving out there.
Oh well, i will stick to the urban core.
2. DRJ | March 13th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Let’s be perfectly clear on this. Even though Mr. Phegley says that there is remedy outside of monetary compensation the measure clearly states monetary compensation. The other remedy is for the city to do absolutely nothing. Which will neither decrease nor enhance property values.
Ultimately this issue will have to be decided in the courts at a cost to both the city and its citizens. If I was a major land owner, I certainly would not be holding my breath on being able to develop my property now.
DRJ
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