Measure 37- Crook County Update

Measure 37 showed up again in the news today with an update about Crook County. 

Per the Sunday, April 8th Edition of the Bend Bulletin, Crook County Court has passed two revisions to the measure recently, reconciling discrepancies between the state's and the county's application of the measure.

The main change is that property owners who want to develop their land under a Measure 37 claim will now be required to obtain both county and state waivers before proceeding. Before, the county could approve claims even if the state had not yet waived the land use laws on the property. Measure 37 watchers have said in the past that even if a city or county waives local land use laws for a claim, state laws may still apply. Some have recommended that property owners file claims both locally and at the state level.

A second revision says that the county will notify the state Department of Land Conservation and Development of all claims filed in Crook County.

Passed by voter's in 2004, Measure 37 says that, if land use laws enacted after a person bought property reduce its value, the government must either waive the regulations or compensate the homeowner.

Read the entire article by Rachel Scarborough King here.

Crook County is addressing some of the very basic issues that have came with the passing of Measure 37. Many property owners had received a county waiver only to find out that the state laws still prohibited development. Certainly there are many more issues to be ironed out within Measure 37 but this is one small step in helping to clarify what will be permitted with these waivers.

More Articles on Measure 37 and Oregon

Measure 37- Good or Bad for Oregon?

Oregon's Property Rights Law Kicks In, Easing Rigid Rules- NY Times