The University School of Law will host a symposium today on Measure 37 and land-use planning in Oregon.
The symposium, sponsored by the Journal of Environmental Law and Litigation (JELL), will include speakers from two of the most outspoken groups on the measure. Representatives from 1000 Friends of Oregon, a land-use planning advocacy group opposed to the measure, and Oregonians in Action, the group that authored the measure, will each participate in the panels.
Panels will focus on the current litigation process, the government response to the measure and land-use issues in Oregon, among other topics.
Panelists include Oregonians in Action Executive Director David Hunnicutt, Bill Moshofsky of Oregonians in Action and Carrie McClaren, staff attorney for 1000 Friends of Oregon.
Oregon Appeals Court Judge David Schuman will open the day by speaking on the initiative process in Oregon and how the state differs from others in getting measures on the ballot. Assistant law professor Tom Lininger will end the day with a presentation on a proposed gas-fired power plant in Coburg.
Measure 37 passed last November with 61 percent of the vote, receiving a majority in every county except Benton.
The measure allows land owners to be compensated when new land-use laws restrict their ability to develop their land. Owners can either be paid by the government or given a waiver that allows them to develop their land as they could have when it was originally acquired.
Because many governments are low on funds, waivers have been the popular choice.
Both sides have planned ballot initiatives for 2006 to change the law.
The symposium will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in room 141 of the Knight Law Center.
-Chris Hagan