Revision of an Initiative Related to Land Use Right

Abstract

Measure 37 of the Oregon State, which obliges governments to compensate landowners if their land value decreases because of land use regulations, was approved in 2004. Due to lack of financial resources, governments forgo regulations. Hence, the Oregon State faced the crisis of the growth management policy based on land use control. In 2007, the Oregon legislature passed a new law that revised the Measure 37 after public hearings and put it as a referendum, Measure 49, which passed with 61% of approval. Measure 49 admits the right of construction of 1-10 houses and transfer of the right of claim, while it denies large-scale development to protect agricultural land and forest. In this manner, Measure 37 was modified in a democratic and compromising manner.