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Worries Over UGB-Splitting Bill And The Onslaught Of Sprawl

Posted by: Nate Berg

25 June 2007 - 9:00am

A powerful home builders lobby in Oregon helped push a bill through the state legislature that some say threatens the urban growth boundary for the city of Eugene, and essentially opens the flood gates for sprawl in the area.

"Local developers have been fighting for years to expand Eugene/Springfield's joint UGB to allow more urban sprawl. Developers tried legal action to force the city to update its buildable lands inventory, the first step toward a UGB expansion, but lost. They convinced Springfield to let developers pay $40,000 for a new land study for their side of the UGB, but Eugene refused to go along and held potential veto power over any big Springfield UGB expansion. In January the council voted 5-4, with Piercy breaking the tie, to follow a staff recommendation to not conduct a new land inventory."

"Undaunted, the developers took the local fight to Salem. HB 3337, 'at the request of Oregon Home Builders Association,' the Legislature's official bill ledger read, was quickly scheduled for an April hearing. The bill would split the local UGB and force Eugene to do the land study in two years."

This is "a move developers think will hasten UGB expansion in Eugene."

Full Story: Developers' bill divides and conquers
Source: Eugene Weekly, June 21, 2007
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