Land Use

While it is often lauded by its proponents as a “model” for the nation, after 33 years no other state has chosen to emulate Oregon’s land-use program. Clearly the Oregon system is more of an aberration than a model, and needs to be drastically reformed to incorporate the benefits of property rights, incentives, and markets.

Ballot Measure 7 passed in 2000, which would have brought some relief, but this measure was overturned by the Oregon Supreme Court. A similar proposal was passed as Measure 37 in 2004, which resulted in roughly 7,500 claims filed for financial compensation (or waiver of regulations) due to the loss of property rights caused by zoning. That law is now threatened by Ballot Measure 49, which will be voted on in November 2007.

Cascade believes strongly in the virtues of free enterprise, which is based on the strong enforcement of property rights. This web page includes essays, commentaries and studies related to land-use planning, “smart growth,” and similar subjects.